Our Christmas was slightly more humble this year due to Kurt's new job, and us trying to be somewhat frugal. And you know what, I actually really enjoyed having a more simple Christmas. I didn't get wrapped up in all the chaos and shopping like crazy like I do every year. It was nice not to fight the mall crowds, and just take a trip or two to Target and Walmart and be done with it. My girls weren't neglected by any means. They were just as happy with this Christmas as they have been with other Christmases that I go overboard with. I think whether or not we have the money to spend on big Christmases I'm going to keep things more simple from now on and focus more on being together and doing more Christmas activities. Kurt and I also decided to not do Christmas for each other and save up some money and go shopping for ourselves in the next couple months. Although he broke this rule by giving me a beautiful horse head. Yes, a black statue horse head. It was hideous. But I'll blog about that separately. This year I did the 12 days of Christmas with activities together as a family. Each night the girls would pull a tag out of the Christmas pocket calendar I made, and on it would say what fun thing we were going to do that night as a family. Some activities included: baking cookies, playing "Santa May I", make ornaments, read Christmas stories, build a gingerbread house, and go see Christmas lights.
Christmas Eve was spent at our house this year and to make it a little more fun, and since Kurt always complains about having to watch "White Christmas" I planned a couple games for the kids. We did a scavenger hunt for the pajamas and played Christmas bingo, which the kids loved. I wrapped up all the prizes so when they called Bingo they just had to choose a present not knowing what was inside, some things were girl and some boy, they just had to trade.
The adults all enjoyed playing Carters goofy ninja game where you all stand in a circle and try to slap each others hands with one swift movement. I think our family played this for hours, and again on Christmas.
Christmas morning Kurts parents came over for breakfast, then later that day we went to my parents for dinner. We also talked to Colton on the phone, he was in shock that Macy could actually talk and was a big girl. I think he's in for a surprise when he sees her in August.
One of Raegans favorite part of Christmas was when I helped with her school Christmas party and played "Stuff the Santa". I bought a HUGE pair of red long-john pajamas, the kind with the flap on the bum, and each kid put them on and the other kids stuffed it fat with balloons. It was tiring getting the jammies on and off each kid but the kids laughed their heads off and had a good time.
Raegan will also say that her Easy Bake Oven was her favorite gift since she wants to be a chef when she grows up.
Macy's favorite activity was bingo. She was so proud of herself when she found the right picture on her page. Her favorite gift was the Swan Princess castle, of which she asked for maybe 100 times before Christmas and when she opened it from Santa she kept saying "See Mom!! This is the one I want!"
