We had a nice family Christmas at home, which is my favorite kind. Santa brought the kids a lot of great stuff plus E and I bought the kids a Disney Infinity so there was plenty to keep everyone busy all day (and hopefully for many many more days).

We walked to the 4:30 family service at our church. Caroline wore one of my Christmas dresses.

 Before bed we put out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer with a drawing Caroline made and put in an envelope she borrowed from church. Then we sprinkling the lawn with “reindeer food” that Caroline made at school (oats + glitter).

We open one present each on Christmas Eve.

And then we tried to get some photos in our matching jams.

And then after the kids went to bed SANTA CAME!

And then Christmas was chaos. With bacon and waffles.

It was a very Star Wars Christmas.

Caroline is SUPER excited about her first graphic novel.

Christmas happened last week and it already feels like it was a super long time ago. I am NOT looking forward to putting all of it away.

Sunday:

Pretty sure she insists on church JUST for the cookies

Shopping assistant

Dropped the kids off for FOUR HOURS of art (clearly they did not make these)

Monday:

Toddler playdate

Warm enough for a nap-walk

This free-from-the-trash coupe is working out well

Tuesday:

ALOOOOOOOONE shopping

Good dog

Good Daddy

Wednesday:

Blech

How Linc feels about the weather

Side-eye master

Thursday:

Bare feet on Christmas Eve

Last minute Santa cookies

An angel got her wings

Friday:

The only shot I got where they are all in the matching jams

Disney Infinity for 8 hours straight

Sticking to the 4 main food groups

Saturday:

Soooooo much of this

HEY GUYS THEY HAVE CHRISTMAS HERE TOO!

Borrowing toys from his cousins

After that week of super crazy warm weather mother nature is getting us back with rain, freezing rain, more rain, and ice. It’s unpleasant. I’m REALLY wishing I had brought my Vitamin D with me on our trip, because I’ve completely forgotten what the sun looks like.

I have a hundred Christmas photos to post but by the time I do it no one will care about Christmas anymore. Hopefully they are quickly followed by a very interesting recap of my completed 365 photo project, which I am probably never going to shut up about. ALMOST DONE!

We did the Essex Steam Train North Pole Express (it’s basically the Polar Express without the trademark) two years ago and it was great. I skipped it last year because we have to buy tickets in August and last August I had a 1 month old and couldn’t get my act together. Plus E was gone that whole summer/fall and I was VERY sure I couldn’t take 3 kids on a magical nighttime train ride alone. But this year I planned to stay home on ticket day and got my fastest fingers ready and bought tickets for the last train on Caroline’s actual birthday day so we could all go. I think next year I’m going to spring for the first-class tickets. They’re a ridiculous amount of money, but I’m not throwing Caroline a big party next year so I feel like we can swing it. Plus I saw one of the elves who host the first class cars and she looked like a legit magical snow queen. Caroline would lose her actual mind.

It is a wonderfully done event full of good cheer – it’s well organized and everyone goes out of their way to make the kids feel special and really believe in Santa magic. The cars are decorated, there are special songs, they give you cookies and hot cocoa, and the whole last 20 minutes is a big dance party where the kids just go crazy in the aisles. All three kids had a blast.

p.s. In case you were wondering, the pajamas are from Hanna Andersson.

This girl worked at the station and I am not sure if she was an extra elf or a fairy or a snowflake or what, but she chatted with Caroline and it was SO adorable. She told her she peeked at Santa’s list and Caroline was definitely on the nice side. Caroline squealed she was so excited.

Hey look! My blog is working again! It is no longer infected with vicious malware because my host company fixed it. Which is good, because I have literally no idea how that happened OR how to fix it. So here’s last week’s post, late but done.

Sunday:

Nutcracker

Very excited

Luke and Yoda

Monday:

Very scenic view of Groton Long Point

My UPS guy is very busy

Warrior baby

Tuesday:

Santa is delivering these to Linc and Caroline

Helping wrap presents, because babies should totally have scissors

Evan’s “can” sentence: “She can be a superhero”. THAT’S RIGHT SHE CAN.

Wednesday:

Seriously in love with my Rocksbox this time. I might keep the necklace.

This is their favorite game

Sleepy baby

Thursday:

That’s not my fairy!

Twinning

Fish girl

Friday:

Surprised face

Destroyer of worlds

Grown up cards night

Saturday:

Caroline really thought we should keep them

Polar Express train at bedtime = tired baby

But he woke up for the cookies and Santa

Three more days until Christmas and it’s currently 60 degrees outside. We might go to Boston on Christmas Eve because it will be warm enough not to bring coats for walking around. I’m still not complaining, because I am sure we’ll be burried in snow before spring.

The rest of my plans for this week include making fudge and cookies and letting the kids eat as many sweets as they want because Christmas. I love Christmas.

Caroline’s 5th birthday party is DONE! Today, she and I went to see The Nutcracker done by the ballet company where she takes ballet. Next Saturday, on her actual birthday, we’re going on the Polar Express to see Santa at the North Pole. I’d say she’s turning 5 absolutely in style. This last week was crazy but now it’s over and all I have left on the to do list is wrap one million presents before Christmas.

Sunday:

Tree decorating at church

Making lemon curd

They look so nice, but they’re terrors

Tuesday:

E’s favorite method of babywearing

Trying to see how close he can stand to the edge without falling off

So, Many. Desserts.

Wednesday:

Santa baby thinks he looks HILARIOUS

PARTY MENU PREVIEW

Never tired of looking at our tree

Thursday:

So dark, no one wants to get up in the morning

Who needs a coat, it’s only DECEMBER.

Grandparents are so good at reading

Friday:

The day started a little foggy

But the sunset was pretty spectacular

Like I said, grandparents are super good at reading

Saturday:

Babies are very helpful when it comes to setting up bounce houses

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY IN NEW ENGLAND WHAT

Such a super fun day with my girl!

Because my parents are the best, almost all of the party stuff is already cleaned up and my only job is eating leftovers. And maybe making time in my schedule for some exercise, because it’s too nice outside for me to already gain my winter hibernation weight. I should go jog on the beach or something. As much as I love the idea of a White Christmas, the longer it stays mild the lower our heating bill and the less school the kids miss and I don’t want to sell them to the circus.

Stay tuned for an epic party post – the photos are done so all I have to do is get them (and the links to alllll the places I ordered from) into a post!