Christmas Vacation

Can I just share that I've so been enjoying the Peanut's Christmas vacation?  Not only has it been nice to have her home with us (on many, many levels--but the sibling bickering????  Make. It. Stop!!!!), but it means I don't have to be such a Nazi about bedtime--which I usually am.  I usually, without fail, have the kiddos in the bath by 6:30 (6:40 if I am living fast and loose that evening) so as to have them in bed, stories read, and lights out by 7:30.  Both of them require 11-12 hours of sleep and when they wake up around 7:00-7:30 each morning, they need a firm bedtime.  And who am I kidding?  I enjoy a little quiet time to myself each night too!  Anyhow, all that said, because we can sleep in each morning with no firm obligations, it's been nice not having to be so rigid about bedtime. Not that we go crazy by any means, but 8:00 and in bed? 

No biggie. 

It's just been really, really nice.

We had a nice little quiet Christmas.  We did the thing floating around Pinterest for gifts for the kids this year and it was SO nice.  Four gifts for Christmas--something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.  We initially decided on that mainly because of budgetary constraints, but in the end, our kids are so very blessed and they really don't need anything.  They have closets full of clothes and tons of toys to play with (thank you Grandma and Grandpa!).  The Hubs and I don't really exchange gifts (although I did get him a Charger's sweatshirt that I totally forgot about this past September!) and he did built me a coat rack for our mudroom main entry/exit through our house.  That will have a post of it's own later.  

We entertained my mom's side of the family here on Christmas Eve and then went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for Christmas dinner. While Christmas time has always been my very favorite-ist time of year, with the kids and their emotional highs and lows of the last several days (lots of excitement, lots of family time, lack of strict schedules {see above}, etc.) EVERYTHING has the potential for a big ol' meltdown.  So.  That said, I am kinda enjoying the rest of this week just being able to lay low and watch movies, eat leftover cookies and soup from Christmas Eve and just relax. 

I hope you are getting to do the same!!!