December 2022

We stayed home for Christmas 2022. Since we had just gone to Florida the week before. The kids really wanted to be home and wake up on Christmas morning with all those festive feelings. And I truly do love being home for the holidays as well. I just wish family lived closer. It's not the same with family so far away. This Christmas was another wonderful, yet quiet one at home. These kids growing so quickly and time passing so fast. We still made some great memories this year. We made sure to go for walks in the neighborhood to check out all the lights and houses lit up. We brought hot cocoa and hot toddy's. The good ole days!! This year, Maxwell was into Sonic and Superheros. Scarlett is getting into that pre-teen phase but also loves Harry Potter. Vera was all about the Frozen and Cocomelon. She got her first kitchen and all the feels when she saw it that morning! Love watching these kiddos grow. <3 I think Christmas is my absolute favorite to prepare for. I start in October and every moment that I wrap...prep...shop...plan. It truly brings a smile to my soul. The best feeling. We only get so many of these years to make Christmas and the holidays a fun and spirited time. Each year I feel the need to start sooner and make it last longer. 

A week in Florida: Holidays 2021

 This December we decided to go stay a week in Florida with my mom and sisters. We took the week before Christmas and flew out. Scarlett and Maxwell were really into Harry Potter this year so we went to Universal for a day. We rented a super cute little Airbnb by the beach. Way better than hotels!! Ty and I are looking to buy a small place at the beach there so we can visit my mother more often. We will likely airbnb it out like we do our New York place. 

We also spent some time at the beach, did a couple cookouts, did a pre-Christmas morning with presents and breakfast. We went to dinner at our favorite place on the beach, . It's become a tradition to go there. It had been a LONG time since the kids had seen their cousins so they were really excited to be together! My sister's son and Maxwell are the same age and so it was a fun time for them to spend a week together. We made some good memories and can't wait to see them all again! 

Christmas 2019.

We stayed in San Antonio for Christmas this year. It was SOOOOO nice to relax and let the kids wake up and run down to see the presents under the tree. It's been a while since they have gotten to do that. The last 2 Christmas' we traveled. AND let's not forget the fact that I'm 8 months pregnant and wasn't allowed to travel anyhow.

My mom came over from Florida and my little sister joined us from New York. We had hoped more family would join us but it didn't end up working out that way. We had a fun week together! It always goes by too quickly! Just the same, we crammed in some good memories. We had a potluck style Christmas Eve party with our favorite dishes, Christmas games & Christmas Vacation played in the background all night. We made gingerbread houses and baked sugar cookies. We drank wine (mocktails for me) and ate too much just as the holidays should be. We played silly games and laughed all night long. Those are the moments that I really treasure. There's something so magical about Christmas.  Ty attempted reindeer and snowmen pancakes one morning. They didn't turn out too bad. Not Pinterest worth but the kids loved them!

Christmas morning was gifts from Santa, biscuits and gravy for breakfast (Ty's family tradition) and then some relaxation. I had my formal sit-down Christmas dinner that consisted of Herb Roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, cranberry sauce and warm rolls. Ty made homemade french onion soup for an appetizer and that was a hit!! The next day we headed down to the Riverwalk. We grabbed dinner and then saw the lights along the Riverwalk. It was REALLY crowded so we did a short distance and then went home to play some games in the peace and quiet. Scarlett had horse lessons that weekend and we all drove out to watch her. We did some walks around the neighborhood too.
I really miss having family close. It's probably one of the hardest things about living in Texas. Scarlett cried and cried when they had to leave. It's hard to think that the next time we see them might be in another year. The kids change SO much in a year and I know they love seeing their grandparents and aunts/uncles. We won't be traveling as much this year with the gym and new baby coming up so that is a little sad to think about. Anyhow, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that 2020 is good to you!!