Christmas was pretty low key (i.e. LOVELY) this year with not a lot of travel but lots of down time just to be together and do nothing much. We were hoping that we'd have another Cincy-Sister-Christmas-Thanksgiving extravaganza like we did last year but flights were too expensive for Houghtens (who go to go to Hawaii instead woop! woop!) and mom/dad opted to come up earlier so they stayed at home for Christmas. Luckily Maria didn't have to work and she and Tyler were able to come over to our side of the state (despite some crazy weather in the GR area starting Christmas Eve). We went to 7pm Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Thomas (which might be a nice tradition to start, it was lovely and not "too late" for mama and little ones like Midnight Mass is).
Above you can see the little bit of snow we got right before Christmas (the day before Christmas Eve I think?). It's all melted away as I type this after a string of 40+ degree days (Christmas Eve was -17 with the wind chill...brrrr...piercing cold indeed!)
The littlest girls and I did get a couple batches of sugar cookies in.
Lulu is playing with the "giant Jesus" I got for my friend Amy for her family for Christmas. More on him later...and you can see the rest of the pics here are from opening presents with Grandma Paula on Christmas day at her house.
I wasn't able to attend the preK program which was on Wednesday morning after drop off. Luckily Isabel went as my proxy and got some cute pics, like this one of Lulu and Cece :)
Peter had Lucy for his Secret Sibling Santa exchange and got her this Bluey doll house!
We had a party at my work the last week. We typically do a "white elephant" gift exchange. These candle holders have been going strong about 5-7 years now...and Liz came back with Jazzy, the dog she fosters who is the OG office dog.
Mom and Dad sent plenty of Christmas pictures to let us know they were alive (and hydrated!)
Just one picture? Nope? Well then. Here you all are for posterity.
Sometimes Mateo needs a little help with his picture face :)
My second favorite Christmas present arrives! Tyler put in a new toilet for us! It only took the entirety of Christmas Eve day. LOL
The gangs all here! Lucky us. Grandma and all her grandchildren :)
After Christmas day, the little girls weren't ready for the day to end so I drove them around to look at Christmas lights and then Paulina asked to stop at the park to "sit in the tree" and the girls ran around in the snow until Lucy fell and her hands got cold.
Seems like I love everything about HVCS and the Christmas Program is no exception. Instead of going out late in the cold and dark, the program is the last day of school before break, first thing in the morning...what a lovely way to start the day! The 3rd Graders sang the 12 Days of Christmas and Paulina was one of "four calling birds"
Maria getting a foot rub and Mateo getting a dollar. Everybody's happy!
I asked once for a picture but knowing I was unlikely to get one (see photographic evidence above)
I snapped this of all my people down the pew at Christmas Eve Mass.
I really don't Christmas shop. My sisters and I decided awhile ago not to gift one another or each other's kids really (I mean how is that fair I have twice as many as both of them COMBINED lol) and I do all the kids gifts early for their Saint Nicholas stockings so I can really enjoy Advent. I really like it b/c it's so low stress and Christmas isn't about the presents so much as just being together. But the kids instituted the Secret Sibling Santa exchange a year or so ago and so now I have to "help" shop. UGH. But I try to maintain a positive attitude and this is me "faking it until I make it" with Paulina and Mateo by making the best of going out shopping with a Coney Island lunch and time with my "in between" kiddos :)
Lucy had Tyler and got him a book and underwear (her idea, Lord have mercy!). Paulina had Isabel and got her a blanket (the 3rd or 4th one found during our TJ Maxx run lol), a coffee mug and coffee. Mateo had Paulina and got her a Squishmallow back pack, Roblux GC and candy. Peter had Lucy and got her the Bluey dollhouse (he chipped in his own money to go over budget!). Mikey had Maria and got her a movie GC with a promise for a brother/sister movie date (does he know his sister or what???). Isabel had Peter and got him some techy gadgets and old gift cards. Carmen had Mikey and she got him some clothes and man hygiene products. Maria had Carmen and got her a GC for a mani or pedi. Tyler had Mateo and got him a basketball (if you look closely in the picture above you can see his stellar, tinfoil wrapping job ;)
So I have had my eye on giant Jesus for about 3 years now. I just felt strongly that he belonged in the Ekblads' home but it's just seems like such a weird gift so I held off until this year. I pulled the trigger and because I was sick, he got to live with us for a good week. I napped with him and Lucy watched TV with him. He really is quite cuddly and comfy! I was super happy that nobody thought I was "too weird" (or kept it to themselves if so) and I not only ended up giving them just the right gift but I got gifted back my own giant Jesus in return! If that's not the love of a BFF I don't wanna know what is.
The two Mateo's play their glockenspiels at the Christmas concert with the 6th Grade band.
Giant Jesus and Mini Jesus.
Two of the outfits Avery was wearing 4 years ago at Christmas 2018 were featured on Paulina for Christmas 2022. Aren't they the cutest????
We got a quick visit with Ale even! What a nice surprise. She came home with Carmen until her flight back home for the holidays!!
Playing cards with grandma.
Setting up for the last All School Mass of 2022!
I feel so blessed to be able to go most Wednesdays on my lunch hour.
Lucy's teacher gave her this cool window cling as a Christmas gift. Lu was so excited to put the bear together on the window. Unfortunately Pablo systematically took down every piece and ate it. Gross.
Puzzle from Houghtens. We said we wouldn't gift each other but Aunt Erin likes to send a box of stuff anyway :) This kept me busy and out of the way the entire time the toilet was being installed.
Just me and giant Jesus 1.0 (the Ekblad version) before I realized I'd get my own giant Jesus for selfies!
