Christmas Eve 2015

We held our usual Christmas Day celebrations with Brittany and her family on Christmas Eve since we would be leaving early on Christmas Day to go to the airport.  This will be the first time since they've lived here that we won't be together on Christmas Day.

"elf"ing a neighbor who had been missed (it's never too late!)

Dropping off another gift for a neighbor

Such a gorgeous day!  We enjoyed being outside in the sun without jackets and playing on bikes.  Max is too big for this little trike he got when he turned one but he still wanted to ride it.

Taking turns on the big bike

Ms Mary Ann and Mr Chris came over to exchange presents.

We had a yummy ham dinner

Silly goofs

cupcakes for dessert

video - Uncle Joe had Emmalyn cracking up

Time to open presents!

Max was slightly fooled when he opened his present and it was a gingerbread house decorating kit...but he kept going...

What?!  A minion shirt?? He was super excited

And a bey blade?  He was very happy

The boys liked the boogie boards we got them.

Opening the Christmas PJs

 

Writing his letter to Santa

"Dear Santa   Please bring my present that I want. From Max Millar"

All the kiddos in their PJs (Maxwell was checking to see if he had stinky feet)

Time to head to bed, cowboy

Peter knocked out around 1 am...  Momma was still going.  Christmas Eve is always a busy, late night but it was a REALLY late night because we had to pack for our trip to Utah, too.

Our house all decorated this year.

I didn't put all the decorations out this year but I still had lots out.  I have loved having the canvas pictures of Christmas's past as decorations.

Santa came!

Decorations

Santa's note back to Maxwell

Max's presents

Emmalyn's presents

Our door of Christmas cards.  It a fun reminder of how many great friends and family we are lucky to have.

Santa even filled up the stockings for Momma and Daddy.

Why I shouldn't do crafty projects

The last few days before Christmas were pretty busy.

Emmalyn has started climbing on chairs and getting into drawers.  She likes to get out her own silverware.

Maxwell received and envelope in the mail

It was a Christmas card *just for him* from Grandma Donna!  He was so excited and immediately wanted to put it on his door so he could see it all the time.

I visited Max at school during lunch (can't remember why anymore now)

Gas was so low I couldn't help but take a picture.  It's crazy to see it drop this low when it was up around 3.50/gallon!

Look how cute Emmalyn's hair is, thanks to Britt!  This is her most elaborate hair style yet.

We took the kids to look at the lights in downtown Frisco.  Max was really into them and enjoyed it (Emmalyn enjoyed it too).

Peek...

...a boo!

So, I decided to take on a project.  I've taken a couple Friday's off work in December to work on my to-do list so it was the perfect time for a project.  Max is going to get the below lego table from Santa for Christmas.  I am not in love with the color or characters on the table so I figured I would use chalk paint and paint over it.  I have multiple friends who have been singing the praises of chalk paint and how easy it is to use.  So I went to Home Depot, got everything I needed and was ready to start when I sent pictures of the table to Peter and he said that he liked it the way it was.

...Well... Darn!

I spent some time on cleaning up the flower beds and laying down mulch for the rest of winter.  Here's the before...

...and the after.   I love how clean it looks.

While Momma worked at home, Emmalyn was working out with Brittany and Joe.

Here's the chalk paint.  Since I wasn't going to paint the lego table, I decided to find something else to paint.  I already had the supplies, the time, the motivation...got to put it to use!

Here's my new project.  This kids table I was given by one of my employees.

Everything was going well and I was having a great time.  Until I lifted one part of the table up to get to part of it but had totally forgotten that I had the paint can sitting on the top of the table.

It totally spilled on the floor.  And of course right on the garage floor and not on the drop cloth I had on the ground.  Sheesh!

I scraped up most of it

And then scrubbed at the rest.  I got most of it up but wasn't able to get it all up. ugh.

So then I'm walking around and step right on the lid of the can and get paint on my foot.

And THEN I freaking get paint on my pants AND shirt.

I just am so clumsy.  This is why I shouldn't do crafty projects.  It's a disaster where I'm certain to ruin something.

Here's the finished product all painted and just waiting to dry.  I'm happy with it.  

I tried to get a picture of the two of them together but it just turned silly...

Max ended up being the only kid in his swim class so Coach Katie challenged him to swim the whole length of the pool.  He did great and did it a few times!  Since he was the only one in the class, that meant he was swimming the whole time.  He was certainly worn out that night.

Max has been enjoying listening to Aunt Jules Christmas album.  Feliz Navidad is one of his favorites to listen too.

Maxwell has loved doing the countdown to Christmas this year.  It's fun seeing him really getting into more of Christmas.

Gasp - - I started wrapping presents a day BEFORE Christmas Eve!  Go me!