Christmas Traditions

12.13

The kids sleep under the Christmas tree once in December, so we set all the beds up so they could do that on the 13th. Hattie slept on the crib mattress, Molly slept on the love seat, Charlie slept on the couch, and Alanna slept on the air mattress. The picture of the kids on the floor under the glow of the Christmas tree lights with a roaring fire in the wood stove is one that will be etched into my memory forever. Such sweet memories!!

 12.15

We usually make gingerbread houses with the kids at home using all of the candy leftover from parades and Halloween. :) Jordan and Mercedes joined us for the afternoon and got in on the gingerbread house fun. I think Matt put a deer roast of Jordan's on the smoker that night and they stayed for dinner. I'm not sure who had more fun - my kids or Jordan and Mercedes! Matt and I helped out the kids and ran interference instead of making our own, but soon enough we will be able to join in the fun and make our own. 

 Rustand Family Christmas

We celebrated our own family Christmas on Friday, December 20th, a day ahead of our Minnesota departure. We got the kids three gifts each. Sometimes the gifts have multiple items inside (Charlie got a few shirts, a pair of jeans, and football wide receiver gloves in one package, for instance), but I really like the simplicity of a small amount of gifts. It's a trend we started a few years back and will continue for a while! Molly was so funny when she opened her gifts - she had a dead-pan expression on her face and showed almost no emotion. It was so strange! She was excited but definitely didn't show it. Alanna won the prize for the best reaction, and Charlie won the prize for easiest to shop for and person who receives gifts the best. He treasures everything he receives and genuinely plays with his gifts. It's so fun to see their different personalities! We opened gifts later in the afternoon and had a cookie spread and punch after dinner. 

Last year, we didn't go back to MN for Christmas. This year, we decided to go back. There are pros and cons to each, things I love and things that are hard. This year, we went back. Pictures to come. :)