Last year, Pete and I had a heart-to-heart about the holiday season. Talked about how important of a time it is for us, but also how important it is to our families. We are blessed with two wonderful families who have spent Pete and I's entire childhood (and adulthood) creating beautiful family traditions that they have withheld through the years. Bentonville has become our home and we love it so much, but we knew our hearts just needed to make it a point to take our kiddos back to the chaos of Midwest Christmas each year if possible. Ya, I am 32 years old and still waking up on Christmas morning in my child hood home, but snuggling my own babies and husband while enjoying the magic of Christmas with both of our families- it was pretty special!
The mantel at my parent's house: continues to grow bigger each year... and I think the sign above fits things perfectly!
An almost- complete sibling and parent holiday lunch out to begin the Christmas festivities... missed you, Aaron!!
...and Harper and Nana had a little day date: Harper got the hair cut she had been begging for. In typical Harper fashion, she started to get nervous about it, and wasn't quite sure after it was done, but if the continual petting of her hair she does in the mirror with a huge smile on her face means anything- she seems to love it.
Thank you, mom. I know she felt so special sharing some one-on-one time with you!
And little Ms. Maggie also got a new do! Nana gave her a good trim and my always fashionable sister put Maggie's hair up in a high pony with a head band... and bam- she no longer looked like a baby-craziness- wow! But, I LOVED IT!!
Thank you, Anna!! Thank you for the adorable hair, stretching her out so well, and for whatever the language is you and Maggie were speaking to each other. She still crawls around our house saying, "ba!" looking for you- haha!
And this little one was GLUED to Aunt Abby's hip. I always say that Harper reminds me so much of my sister, Abby... get them together and yep- it's true. These two got somethin'- ha!
Side note: nothing like breaking out Nintendo 64 and the Wii for some basement tournaments- ha! Oh man, we couldn't stop laughing watching each other breaking it down with Just Dance and going all sniper style in James Bond. Ha! We even got my mom up there dueling it out during Just Dance- love it!
Harper got to have a day date with her Daddy AND Papa!! She was SOOOO excited. Had to get her fancy clothes on for Papa- so cute!
Tom, thank you for making her feel so special. She had such a nice time with you!
...and then these two arrived home and the circle was complete! Uncle Aaron and Natalie were welcomed with LOTS of little hands wanting some attention and cuddles- thank you to both of you for accommodating- ha!
Girls gone wild: trying to do some baking for everyone. We knocked out a Texas sheet cake and chocolate crinkle cookies, but got the most laughs out of trying to make my grandmother's spritz cookies. We all remember the tins she would make of these small almond-flavored cookies, and now we have a new appreciation of them: those suckers are hard to make!! Between the three of us (ok, ok, I may have done more of the delegating and decorating;)), but Abby and Natalie: you were rockin' the cookie presses!
I think we did Gramma proud- don't you, Abby? So glad she was able to taste some of our handiwork;).
The girls and their Papa... special kind of special I tell ya. These smiles. Love.
We kept trying to squeeze in some mani/pedi time and had to keep pushing it off. It was a munchkin named Harper that would NOT let it go, so somehow the salon fit 6 pedicures in during the last hour they were open before Christmas. Harper was soooo excited to finally get her toes painted (in a chair that massaged her back-haha)- complete with a snowman and snowflake on each big toe. She felt Christmas ready for sure...
The mister and I were able to get away with my siblings for an inCycle date. Love that somehow it has become a tradition for us all to do a spinning class together whenever we're all in town. Sibling Spinning... that a thing? The siblings that spin together stay together? ;)
And this little one and her Nana are so cute together. Aside from the act that they are total clones of one another, they just sat and chatted one evening together: Nana munchin' on some appetizers and Evelyn on rice kirispies.... so cute!
{Sibling Pic 2015}
... couldn't help myself. This was a moment I had to take in. My sister, Abby, and her husband, Adam, hosted a holiday dinner for all of us at their new home. So warm and cozy- fire going- yummy food laid out, and of course chaos in the living room. Perfect.
And we did a little gift exchange while we were there. Aunt Abby hit the nail on the head with the Playmobil Fairy Set... watching them set it all up together was equally as perfect;).
Christmas Eve- in matching jammies! HA! Love that we still all do this- even down to the guys and their Christmas socks and the girls with their black out blindfolds... thank you, mom!!!
{Christmas Coziness}
Christmas Eve- Lee style!!!
During the day we were able to travel out to Pete's hometown and enjoy Christmas with Pete's family. It was a wonderful afternoon spent catching up and opening presents together. Ms. Maggie slept through most of the afternoon in preparation for Christmas Eve dinner, but Harper and Evelyn had so much fun soaking in cuddles with Grandma and Papa Lee....
...Uncle Andy and Ms. Britney joining us was the icing on the cake. The girls sure do love their Aunt and Uncle. Such a wonderful visit!!!!
Then it was time to dress up in our Christmas best and head to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tony's for a seafood dinner to top all others. Holy smokes it was incredible!!! So great to spend time celebrating the holiday with family we don't get to see enough. Always wish there could be more time with everyone, but very much enjoyed hugging everyone and sharing these oh-so-special traditions with our girls.
Thank you, Tony and Kathy for opening your home to us... feel so blessed to be sharing in this Lee tradition for so many years now- it's been amazing!
Christmas Magic
I didn't have a chance to snap a picture as the moment came and went before I could, but Santa 'visited' Harper for the second time in a row. Just before she went to bed, my sister hoisted her up on her back and they were walking up to bed, when my sister spotted someone familiar walking along the side walk outside my parent's house. She pointed it out to Harper, who shrieked, "IT'S SANTA!!!!!!" She and Harper ran from room to room shrieking and pure joy as Santa waved to Harper from the side walk. Harper could not believe her eyes and immediately laid right down to try and fall asleep as quickly as possible. It was precious. Goodness do I love Christmas through the eyes of a child.
Uncle Adam, you're incredible. Thank you for keeping the magic alive for our little ones- pretty special.
Christmas morning!!!!!!
Is it crazy to admit that the BIG kids were up BEFORE the little kids on Christmas morning. I blame it on the time change- lol, but no joke my sister was already up and had snuck in a shower before Harper had even opened her peepers. Yep, we're die hard Christmas-lovers around here! The rest of us brushed our teeth, and joined together on the stairs before walking down in unison to see what Santa and his elves had brought. Got to love Christmas traditions- even in your thirties- hehe!
Harper was amazed...
and fell madly in love with her very own American Girl Doll. No need to play with Mommy's hand-me-downs any longer- ha!
A special Christmas for all of us... especially for Ms. Evelyn. This little one was all about it all- Happy FIRST Christmas, sweet baby!!
{Christmas Breakfast 2015}
My favorite gift I gave this year: Nana sure does have quite a few grand babies- furry and not- so far!
We got the chance to visit this lovely lady, help her open her presents, and share our Christmas baking with her. My Gramma has always been so special to me and it meant so much that I was able to visit with her, hug her neck, and enjoy some quiet moments just sitting with her. Thank you, mom for taking such great care of her and making it possible for me to have some holiday moments with her.
On December 31, 2015 Heaven gained another angel. Gramma passed away suddenly, joining so many of our loved ones above the clouds. She rang in the New Year in the most beautiful way. It may have left me breathless and hurt to my core when I heard the news, but I immediately felt at peace, knowing she was somewhere where she could be herself- healthy and happy- and that my littlest munchkins had such a wonderful woman rocking them into 2016. Gramma, I will miss you always, but will always have the warmest memories of you... the beach, your spritz cookies, American Girl Dolls, chocolates, and the color yellow- just a few of the MANY tokens that will forever keep your memory alive always. I love you.
Christmas 2015. It was full of so much. So much love, happiness, and warmth. Blessings to you all as we enter a new year. May it be full of ALL you want it to be.
