This will always be my favorite holiday of the year since having kids. The excitement and build up just can't be topped. We start the season with our annual tradition of cutting down the tree and they boys are usually very interested in helping. Getting Elle through the long tree fields was not easy, but she is not one to be left behind! After a long search we found the perfect tree to strap on the roof of the Tahoe and bring home to decorate. Once the tree is up and decorated it's time for my annual cookie exchange. This has been such a fun tradition over the years and I love my time with my best girlfriends. In between all of the school shows and holiday parties, Santa does a lot of shopping and wrapping. Our family is huge now when you include all of the kids and adults. We are lucky that we have so many people to celebrate with. I am really trying to teach the kids that it's better to give than to receive, but its a work in progress. I will say they love to buy special presents for their siblings and that makes my heart happy. Tis the reason for the season.
We started off this Christmas holiday with Christmas Eve at Gaga and Pa's new house. Kind of crazy not to have Christmas at First League after 30 years, but it will be nice to start new traditions as well. All of the cousins had a blast ripping through presents and showing each other what they got. Nana and Pappap came to visit and see all of the commotion. These kids are so lucky that they have grandparents and great grandparents around to love on them.
After getting home it was time to get to sleep for the big day. The boys always tell me that they don't close their eyes and they stay awake all night. They don't want to miss out on anything. The next morning at 7:30 they were all ready to go. The stockings stay upstairs so that is always the first time to get opened. These kids have never seen candy that they don't like so stockings are pretty great to them. Even our little baby Elle loves a good lollipop and some fruit snacks. Next, as a group we all run into the living room to see what Santa brought. The kids take turns opening one gift at a time so that we can see everything that each person got. Elle opened a few, but the boys were happy to help her. I just love seeing these kids feel so loved and happy. After playing with our presents all day we were off to MomMom and Poppop's house in Edgewater. With 9 grandkids under 6 years old in a townhouse it's always chaos in the best way. The kids rip open their presents and play with everyone's stuff the rest of the time. The family time at the holidays just can't be beat.
Next we were off to New Jersey to spend time with the Ervick side of the family and play with cousins. It was a packed house and we slept 5 people in one bedroom, but we made it work. Grandma and Grandpa have a lot of land so its nice when the kids can run outside with their cousins to play. It was a quick trip, but so much fun to see everyone. Nez's first birthday is coming up and we will be back in Jersey City to see everyone soon!
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