Holiday Cheer

Well Christmas 2015 has already come and gone.

It was a blur of final exams, shopping, wrapping, partying, celebrating, Christmas Eve Services, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Normally we don't get out of Christmas Eve services until really late on Christmas Eve, but this year our church tried something different and our last service was at 4:30. We LOVED it. We came home, ate a nice dinner and then loaded up in our pj's and drove around looking at lights. This may be a new favorite tradition. We were going to take hot chocolate with us in the car, but it was like 90 degrees so we ran the ac while we listened to Christmas tunes instead. 

The next morning was a quiet morning just the five of us while we opened gifts.

Not sure what was happening here, but I think the excitement was too much for Isaac. Lol.

Santa brought a rock kit for Owen, all things football for Isaac, and American Girl accessories for the diva.

After eating breakfast and loading up the car, we headed to the mountains to spend Christmas with my parents and brother's family.

While there we did a lot of eating and some hiking too. The girls made scarves and enjoyed their cousin time.

Isaac even did some whittling like a true mountain man.....in his football jersey..... 

We definitely missed my sister and her crew, but enjoyed the time away from the stress of the real world.

Now it's back to studying and working and figuring out a new budget called the "Rachel is in school full time now" budget. Love me some good ole money debates. ;)

It's good times here. Good times.

These pics show the great parts of our holiday and there were plenty of smiles and laughter. But unfortunately there was another side too and it's called Surviving Christmas with Autism. My thoughts on that are more complicated and unsettling so that's another post for another day.

But for now?

We are wishing blessings and a Happy New Year to you and yours!

Gobble Gobble

We traveled to the OBX to spend Thanksgiving 2015 with Todd's family.

My favorite thing this year?

Watching these two:

My niece and my youngest? They're pretty darn cute together.

And Owen? He doesn't just give hugs to anyone. He'll hug when we prompt him, but it's incredibly rare to get unprompted snuggles.

We caught him hugging on Kenlee several times because he trusts her and feels safe with her. She's good to her "Owen Head."

I did a horrible job of taking pics. As usual......

But here were some other favorite moments:

Lip Sync Battle? Oh yes. This is definitely going to be a new tradition. Hilarious.

Cooking up a storm with my sil? Always a favorite!

Impromptu boat rides? Awesome.

Bonfire on the beach? So fun.

 Todd and his parents cramming in the back seat of the car so we could make Kevin "jealous" of Golden Boy? Always a fun competition......

Playing the Rate Your Love for the Dog game with my father-in-law? (Cooper isn't always a fan favorite due to his need to sometimes mark his territory and his love of people's dirty underwear and socks.....) so it has become quite humorous to torture my father-in-law with pics like this and ask him if Cooper can come sleep with him and Grandma?

(I think Grandma would have loved it as she also likes to sneak Cooper on the furniture when Todd's not around. Lol.)

Anything I get to do with this girl. And I do mean anything. 

I promise the rest of my family was there.

Isaac and Will played football, watched football, talked football, dreamt football, or wrestled their way through Thanksgiving.

Emma Grace spent her time reading or cooking or locked in her room with Kenlee, playing.

Now it's back to the final few weeks before Christmas.

House is decorated.

Stockings are hung.

Shopping has commenced.

Bring it, Holidays!