a holly jolly christmas

well, Christmas is almost over.  I have mostly spent the last two days in my pajamas, chilling around the house with the kiddos, trying to recover and get sleep!  I am exhausted!  Most of Christmas was nice, but the Ellis Christmas left me tired and exhausted.

Sunday was lovely though!  I loved sitting and visiting with you ladies!  It was probably the highlight of my Christmas, because it was the most laid back and relaxing visit of the week.  Too bad we can't do things more - maybe someday :)  

Anyway, here are a few pictures from that morning.  It is always so fun to take Shea on the ferry.  He is so excited about being on the "ferry boat" and loves to pick out our seats.  After he sat down, he ran over to a bench near us to look out the window at a little tug boat, which he was convinced was also a ferry boat.  He immediately struck up conversation with the three guys sitting behind him.  Thankfully, they were nice and chatted with him.  Boy, do I need to teach my child "stranger danger" haha.  But I love love love that he is so personable.  For all the grey hairs Jeremy and I will gain raising this kid, I know in the deep place in my heart that he is going to be one amazing man when he is older.  Jeremy and I always say if the only reason we exist is to raise Shea up to be the strong Christian leader he is made to be, it will be worth it.  Helps on the crazy days to think of that, anyway.

The time at my brother Kit's house was nice!  We arrived a little before ten in the morning.  He made us some lattes and we helped prepare brunch.  Here he is with their new dog, "duke".

And my sister.

We ate food, exchanged a few gifts (I love that there is no expectation of giving and its always a little random each year, but the kids always get something little, so its perfect) and then had a white elephant.  We cleared out some junk from our home this year and gave a wall clock and some weird masks from Bali someone gave us.  haha.  Luckily, the recipients liked them.  The hardest part was that my brother, Josh, is going through a separation with his wife :(  He talked a little with Jeremy about it, but I honestly haven't heard anything directly from him.  We haven't been very close for the past few years, but he was definitely not himself.  Keep him in your prayers, if you think of it. He also lost his job right before he had to move out of their apartment and is living in family's house from his church.

Christmas Eve we went to service at church and then stayed at Jeremy's parents to open up their stocking to our family.  Then we came home and Shea opened his Christmas Eve pajama gift.  Here he is, so excited to finally open a present!

Jeremy and I have the tradition of getting some crackers and cheese and a special drink on Christmas Eve and setting up before we go to bed.  We got a dark Ale from Trader Joes and it was soooo good.  Yes, I like a good beer.  Must be the German in me.  And it was a big bottle so it lasted us a few days.  We don't drink much, so its fun to have a glass of something special every once in a while.

Here is what the kiddos woke up to Christmas morning!

Jeremy was amazing and stoked the fire ALL night os it would be warm in the morning.  Normally we let it burn out and it just takes a couple hours in the morning to heat up the house.  So he was up like every 2-3 hours putting another log on!  But the house was so nice and warm the next day.

Hailey had her first food and loooved it.  I got her some rice husks "num nums".  Just a baby rice wafer that kind of dissolves in their mouth.  Here she is in her Christmas PJ's ready for her food!

Kept her busy for a while.  I would share the video, but its pretty boring haha.

Here is Shea in his Christmas PJ's.  He just opened this cool oldschool tin firetruck from my Grandma.

There were smiles all around!!  Even if we both were SO tired and felt like a truck hit us.  It was a simple and fun Christmas.    After our little Christmas we got dressed and went up to Jeremy's parents for breakfast.  Here is Hailey in her Christmas dress.   But she soaked through it in the car ride to Jeremy's Grandma, so she was just in some random clothes all day. 

After stopping at Jeremy's Grandma, we headed to my parents and just hung out for a little bit with them and two of my brothers.  Then off to the Ellis Christmas.  It was loud and the kids were insane, and I think Shea had like 5 time outs (and so did some of the other cousins) and it took forever.  I was kind of stressed.  Hailey was great, even though she was up through like two of her naps!  She just smiled the whole time.  It just gets too insane though.  I think I ate like two bites of dinner because I had to referee Shea the whole time.  It was such a long day, all the kids were tired, and they were all fighting with each other it seemed.  I've never been so relieved to leave Christmas in my life.  I know it will get easier as he gets older, but boooy.  I was just DONE.  And two families weren't even there, so we still have to open our gifts I guess from the gift exchange, although Jeremy's mom got us some nice stuff already.  It's a little overwhelming.

I cannot tell you enough how I am looking forward to Long Beach next week and taking a NAP and not cleaning my house.  Which I have to do before Friday because we're having the family over to our house for dinner.

OK well.  I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas!  I need to go get dressed haha.