Christmas in Indy- 2018

Christmas!  Christmas!!  Christmas!!!

Despite being woken up at 4am the Lee littles were ALL smiles (and so were their parents;))!!  Just knowing that the long car ride meant that Nana & Papa's house was in their future kept the smiles going.  They decided to drape themselves with their frozen blankets so that it looked like Elsa (covering Harper;)) and Olaf (covering Evelyn;)) were sitting right next to each other- so funny... the creativity sure does have time to shine when you're in the car for 11 hours- lol!!  

 

The light at the end of the tunnel!!

My childhood home looked like something out of a storybook: sparkly in snow and christmas lights... 

THIS is why we pack 'er up every year and make the trip up.

The look on my children's faces when they see my parents waving from the driveway as we pull up- PRICELESS.

The look on my face when I see their live Christmas tree decorated to the nines, a mantle full of stockings, and smell mom's cookin' as soon as we walked in... 

YEP.

PRICELESS.

The feeling I have when I can come in the door, take a deep breath, and pop a squat at the island as my mom fusses in the kitchen... THE BEST.

Home for Christmas... gets me in the feels every time!

This time though, we were there within minutes and Nana and Papa decided Maggie needed to unwrap a present- lol.  A chair {on wheels no less} that was perfect for Maggie to move around their house and be a part of ALL the festivities.  She LOVED it... and we loved feeling like she was ALWAYS a part of the family chaos;).

We unpacked, sat down to a yummy homemade meal, and slept hard that night!

 

The next morning, we took lunch to Pete's grandparent's.  I hadn't been to their home in TOO long and Evelyn had not ever been- so it was FOR SURE time!!  Pete's parents and his aunt and uncle met us there and we shared a meal together.  It was sooooo NICE.  The girls seemed right at home and watching Grandma Wilson light up with the great grandkids there was pretty amazing; made this mama's heart melt for sure.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Wilson for welcoming us into your home.

Thank you, Tom and Darla for driving out to meet us.

Thank you Sally and Dave for preparing such a nice spread and sweet prizes for the kids.

Later the night these two hosted a 'Favorite Things' gift exchange at their home.  

Abby and Adam host a family dinner at their house every year and I LOVE it!!  They are incredible hosts, and it's always a fun kick-off to the holiday festivities- cozy, yummy food, and so fun!

 

This year, we each thought of our favorite thing from this past year and gifted it (girls gave to the girls and boys gave to the boys).  I thought it was so fun and LOVED seeing the different items everyone gifted!!

{Lounging in their jams- the BEST!!}

{Christmas Eve}

The next day it was Christmas Eve!!!  Couldn't believe it was here, but the kids were bursting at the seams with excitement!  We went to church as a family and then back to the house for chili, appetizers, ice cream, and GRAB BAG!!!!  Grab bag has been a family tradition for years, but THIS year, Papa decided to do one with the girls before they went to bed.  We were all curious how it would work- I for one was just praying that they would all be kind and respectful- lol!  We had one small mishap, but other than that- they LOVED it!  Maggie totally loved unwrapping the presents and got so excited watching her sisters dig into the bag for goodies- CUTE!!!

After the JV Grab Bag (HA;), the girls unwrapped their Christmas jammies and we went up to tuck them in for the night.... when they spotted Santa and Mrs Claus walking down the street in front of Nana and Papa's house.  LOVE!!!!

disclaimer: every year Abby and Adam dress up and walk down the street, pausing to wave up at the bedroom window, then continue on.  BEST Aunt and Uncle EVER!  Seriously, the cutest to hear their shrieks and excitement to see the duo, followed by, "Everyone go to bed so they can come- ahhh!!!!!"

After the ducklings are all tucked in, the adults creep back downstairs to unwrap their own Christmas jammies (yes I am 34 years old and still wear matching jammies with my siblings- HA) and do Varsity Grab Bag- HAHA!  We have so much fun hanging together- I swear we still get the giddy- Christmas excitement just before bed time- LOVE IT!!

 

{Christmas morning}

...waiting at the top of the stairs for the "thumbs up" to head down to see what Santa brought!!!

{Girls checking out their loot}

{SOOOO cute... giant box of art supplies!}

{Mags for SURE put that chair to good use on Christmas morning!!}

{Littlest Miss even got a jeep to ride around the neighborhood... now she can keep up with Harper in her mustang- HA!}

We had SUCH a nice morning with my parents AND siblings who all came back to my parent's house to see what Santa had brought us;).  Mom made a fabulous breakfast and we enjoyed jammies and gifts and visiting!

Then we cleaned up, showered, and headed east....

To the Lee family Christmas!

All the cousins and brothers (and Britney and I;)) back together again!!

 

No matter the time apart, these girls ALWAYS pick up where the left off!!  Harper adores her cousins and we had the best time again: eating and playing and visiting- SO FUN!!!

{the love of Legos runs deep with this clan;)}

{Pete's parents}

They made QUITE a spread that day- delicious....

...and Harper finally discovered Darla's famous peach cobbler!  The girl was in Heaven- HA!!

What a wonderful day... we came in like a whirlwind, but it was so nice to slooooooow down, relax, and catch up with family.  Cambridge City is one-of-a-kind... life is so low key you feel like you're on vacation;).

Thank you, Tom & Darla, for such a nice holiday... we loved every second of it!

 

The rest of the week was spent soaking in family and friends.  We so enjoyed slowing down and enjoying the time with everyone ;).

  

{Fun Family Moments}

{Legos - Legos - Legos}

Lunch out with Kessha, Lonnie, and 2 of their handsome boys;) back where she and I first met- good 'ol Charlestons!!  Can't believe it was 14 years ago we were serving and bartending in that restaurant- good times!  

So happy to have you in my life, friend!!

{Cuties}

Kessha and Lonnie are Harper's Godparents and Pete and I are Oliver's.  Harper has decided that that makes Oliver, and his brothers Kohen, and Eli her stepbrothers- hahahaha!  What this girl would do to have brothers in her family to grow up with.... LOVE!

A couple night's later, despite the fact that my nasty cold had left me without a voice, Pete and I went to dinner with some of our Purdue posse.  Pete planned this nice gathering and I was so proud of him... he's not much for making plans let alone reservations;), and to get all of us there around that table was no small feat- I was impressed.  Voice or no voice... the evening was so fun- this crew rocks and I SO enjoyed catching up!!!!

{Siblings from different mothers:)}

Kidding.  Not kidding.

Benjamin and Harper run on the same fuel.  FULL OF ENERGY and had the best time hanging out.  Great for me, his mother is one of my greatest friends, so ya... we had a pretty good afternoon together.... haha!

 

Ellie and Evelyn are within weeks apart from each other in age and although they took a bit to warm up to each other, by the end they were having a blast- CUTIES!!

Thank you for making the drive, Christy, and for sharing your sweet kiddos with us!!  I LOVED it- just wish there was more time to gab... 

 

{The last evening}

All great trips must come to an end....

My siblings all came back for one last meal before we headed back to Arkansas.  It was nice and relaxed, but it's always a bummer to pack 'er all up and leave the comfort of Adios Pass.

{Last minute cuddles and ice cream}

Only at Nana and Papa's at Christmas time is there enough pints of ice cream that your 2-year-old can make an ice cream tower- HA!!

Christmas in Indy NEVER disappoints.  It's always hectic getting packed, making sure we have gifts, and coordinating plans, but once we are there- it's pretty magical.  My children are making fabulous memories with their grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.  We're building traditions together and to hear Harper "rev Evelyn up" in the car ride there telling her all about the traditions she hopes continue- pretty priceless.  

One of the moments that TOTALLY got me in the feels this year- receiving this Hershey's mailbox filled with kisses during grab bag.  When we were younger my Dad put 4 of these in grab bag every year (one for each of his kids;)).  We would unwrap and be like "geeez, another mailbox", throw it aside, and move on.  My Dad stopped putting them in the bag after feeling like no one really cared (gosh that sounds so awful to admit out loud;)), but as we've grown into adult hood, we ask about the mailboxes.  Hershey's retired them years ago, but this year mom found ONE on eBay.  She bought it and added it to the bag, and when Pete unwrapped it, the "Awwwwwwws" erupted!  SPECIAL!!!  These are the things that make Christmas.  Not the mailbox necessarily, but the moments of gratitude and love when you're with the special people in your life.  I know I know... I'm a total cheeseball, but seriously...

Amidst the loud, crazy, exhausting chaos that Christmas can be, I hope you had an "awwwww moment" or two along the way.

Merry Christmas, 2017!!!