The Christmas That Almost Wasn't

Be forewarned...this may the lamest Christmas post in the history of this blog.

Just as the title mentions, this Christmas "almost wasn't" and barely was.  Worse day of the year for mama to get the Flu?...Christmas!  I literally haven't been sick all winter and I've even had the flu shot.  Tell me what are the chances?  But, yes lo' and behold, Christmas Eve Eve, I went down.  I tired to push through, but by Christmas morning I was spent.

So, with all that said, he is a brief snip it of Christmas and the days leading.

Christmas Eve Eve {day one that I sensed something was off} we baked Christmas cookies in the kitchen with GG.  You know how much I adore GG memories in the kitchen, right?

Christmas Eve {definitely not feeling great today}, we gave the kiddos their gifts from Mommy & Daddy.  Maggie got an iPad, Lucy got her first American Girl Doll and Jack got a Nintendo Switch.

Very happy kiddos!

We followed that up with our traditional Christmas Eve Gingerbread Houses.

Christmas Eve Mass and dinner at Grandma's filled our evening.

So, I'm pretty lucky I even grabbed any pictures of Christmas morning.  I literally peeled myself out of bed, watched the kids's open their gifts from Santa and then was back to bed for the rest of the holiday.

Heart breaking to miss out on the celebration, I tell you!

However, the party went on.  All the family still came for Christmas dinner.  Grandma and GG took over in the kitchen and I popped my head out to wish aunts, uncles, and cousins a Merry Christmas.  

There is always next year!

A Fly By

Just Flying By to Wish You a Merry Christmas!

This is what the Cibula kiddos will be gifting their classmates with this holiday season.

I found these cutie Reindeer Flings in the Dollar section of Target.  My kids seem to love anything gushy and sticky so I thought they just might be a hit.

Since then, I've found at least a dozen stuck to a variety of ceilings throughout the house.  I assume their friend's parents are dealing with the same now, thanks to us!

Tis' the season to share the joy!

My Madeline

We snuck in a short snow reprieve to go see my favorite holiday show...Madeline's Christmas.  I just love this Christmas tradition and I have found it to be MY treat.

As you may note, a sister is missing.  That is because her less than desirable attitude suggested I give her ticket to a more gracious guest.  So Lucy ran across the street, last minute, to invite her BFF to go with us.  And my, was it a lovely day.

The show was just as darling as it was last year.  I honestly can't get enough of the cast of precious little girls.  My Lucy promises she is going to be in the show one day, and honesty I wouldn't put it past her.  

Before the start of the show, the girls darted across the stage and took in the scenery and props.  It's such a treat.

We got our concession treats and settled in for the show. Lucy, of course, snuggle right up next to her Grandma.

Post show, we visited the set one more time with even bigger smiles this time.

But the best was yet to come...meeting the cast and getting their autographs.  So Magical!

This is a tradition I will never grow weary of...I pray my girls don't either.

Winter Wonderland

Honeslty, I've come to tune out the weather man's reports of "possible snow".  The majority of the time it doesn't amount to much.  But, hold on there, this time it did.  And it was the most amazing Winter Wonderland of white!

So, I tuned it out so much this time, that I was actually sitting in a movie with Lucy when the storm hit.  When my phone would not stop buzzing with texts from all over town, I decided we might need to scoot out a bit early.  I was having flashbacks to Snowmagedon a few years ago when it took us two hours to get home only two miles away.

Leaving the movie was totally worth it though.  We snatched up the bigs from elementary school and immediately started playing in the falling flakes. 

I'm telling you these snow bunnies did not want to come in.  They were snow ball fighting, snowman building, snow angle making, and hilltop sledding.  The lane was filled with all our friends.  SNOW much fun!

That was just in the first few hours of snowfall.  By evening, it was truly a Winter Wonderland.

This story could have a happy ending right there.  However....by bedtime, we lost power.  I mean like no heat in 30 degree weather...painful! I gathered every blanket out of every linen closet I could find and we braved the elements.  Us Southerners do not like being cold.

Over the next 24 hours the kiddos continued to play in the snow, yet had no where to come in to get warm.  I was convinced they had lost their marbles.  And if they hadn't, I was about to if someone left the door wide open again.  BRRRR.

My pleasant sunny mood returned when the power did.  And wouldn't you know these snow bunnies played out side for another 2 days.

That's how we roll when it Snows in the South. Snow-oak it all in!

The Nutcracker...Girls Only

I took my babydolls to see the Nutcracker this weekend.  It's become a holiday tradition for us girls.  And on that note, are there any boy holiday traditions? So far, Jack has managed to check out of everything!

We met the Miccas and Carpers whom we love to have family hang time with.  They, too, left their boys at home.  Girls only!

Per usual, Lucy had her Nutcracker book signed by all the dancers and Maggie stood by her side and silently smiled.

Before the show, we attended the Sugar Plum Tea, met the stars of the performance, had a few faces painted, and spent time with our darling family friends.

We are still attending the "lower key" Nutcracker.  I think it might be a while before we give the big show a try.  This one seems to suit us just fine and the girls are in complete awe from start to finish {hence the slightly abbreviated version}.

One more Christmas tradition checked off and a lot more to go...