Christmas fell on Monday this week so we are doing Mom Talk Tuesday and pretending it’s Monday 😉
We had a truly fantastic Christmas here yesterday, starting at the crack of dawn of course. The kids tore through their stocking gifts as soon as we got downstairs. Then we made this fantastic Sweet and Sticky Monkey Bread which the kids devoured. (It’s fun because you can pull pieces off and it basically tastes like a cinnamon doughnut.)
After breakfast we got dressed and opened all the presents under the tree. I try really hard not to overdo it at Christmastime, but between the 3 or 4 gifts that we get them plus the ones each kid gets for each other (times the six people in our family) it does end up looking like a lot of presents! A lot of them are books, school supplies, or other useful items though.
While the kids enjoyed their gifts, John and I hit the ground running to get ready for company to arrive. It was our first time hosting Christmas and we really wanted to make it special. The prime rib roast needed three hours to cook, so we put that in as soon as our apps came out of the oven.
I always like to set the mood for a party by serving a signature drink. This time I chose a simple cranberry mimosa because of the festive color, and threw a couple frozen cranberries in to make it look even more like the holidays.
We served dinner on our fine china (only the second time we’ve used it during our 8 years of marriage). Of course I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to take any pictures!
Our guests stayed for the afternoon and into the evening, and the kids were so exhausted they actually went to sleep really easily.
A couple of my favorite moments
Looking back on our wonderful day, it is hard to pick one highlight. One of my favorite parts was seeing the kids give each other hugs unprompted after opening the gifts they gave one another. It’s so touching for me see how much they love each other.
Another highlight is when we went to put Luca to bed for the night. Most of our guests were still there, and we told him to say goodnight to everyone. Well this baby loves to give kisses, he went around the table insisting on giving every single person a kiss goodnight. When someone offered him “knuckles” he shook his head no and puckered up.
I may be biased, but I find his kisses irresistible!
We were exhausted after everyone left, but it was the best kind of exhausted following a very special day.
Share! What was the highlight of your Christmas?
30 comments
Highlight of my Christmas? Eating dinner at my Memaw’s house. There are some recipes that no one can get just right but her! Next best would probably be the gift exchange that my sisters and I do. We pick a theme and draw names between the four of us. It’s so fun!
Isn’t it funny how we associate the holidays with certain foods and we just *have* to have them? Totally get it! That sister gift exchange sounds like a fun time, better than just passing around gift cards like my siblings and I do 🙂
The highlight of my xmas is always watching the kids open gifts!! I love seeing their faces light up!! I hope you had a great holiday!! xo
Kids are the best gift receivers, aren’t they?? That’s a highlight for me too!
OMG Sweet and Sticky Monkey Bread sounds amazing!! Cranberry mimosa’s sound amazing! Love your highlight. Mine was getting to spend the day exactly how I wanted! Made it the day perfect!
Doing exactly what you wanted? Sounds like a dream!
Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas! My boys do the same, demanding kisses and/or hugs from everyone when they say goodnight. We had all 21 people in my extended family together for Christmas morning for the first time in years and it was awesome.
21 people, that must have been a super fun and exciting Christmas morning!
It sounds like you had such a fun Christmas day! Your home sounds so much like mine! Your son is adorable and also reminds me of my son!
Aw, your son must be super cute then 😉
The highlight of my christmas was going to see Star Wars, lol. I have simple pleasures. That cranberry mimosa looks delicious!!
Thanks Ray! I have heard mixed reviews on the Star Wars movie. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Unfortunately we suffered a few losses in recent years and last years losses were just too fresh, I just kept things low key and kept to mostly to myself. Dinner would have to be the highlight of my holidays, but it is the highlight most years anyway.
I’m so sorry for your losses, Tracy. I totally understand how the holidays can make grieving even harder. Wishing you all the best.
This is such a lovely post. We dont celebrate Christmas at home but a couple of friends usually get together and celebrate Christmas every year. I also visited the Christmas Market here in Chicago which was one of the highlights.
Happy Holidays to you
XOXO
Prajakta
I’ve never heard of the Christmas Market, sounds interesting!
It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas! The cranberry mimosas look like the perfect holiday beverage too!
Thanks Angela! They definitely put everyone in a good mood right from the start.
Spending time with my family and friends is the ultimate joy in my life. I don’t see them often so holiday is the perfect time to connect with family.
Family really is what it’s all about. I am fortunate enough to live close to my relatives but the holidays must be even more special for you if that’s the only time to get to see family <3
Ah – Christmas is so different when kids are in the picture. My girls are adults now, but without kids at this time. So we have a very adult non-traditional dinner (lasagna) then take fun family pictures. I am looking forward to the grandchildren one of these days…
Thanks for sharing your day – the kids are adorable!
Thanks Sylvie 🙂 Holidays with family are always special but yes, it is so magical with little ones running around.
You are having such a great Christmas day with your adorable children. Thanks for sharing your best moments with us. Best wishes to you and your lovely kids. Happy New Year!
Thanks Thu, and same to you~! Cheers to 2018 🙂
The highlight this year and every other is family. We host Christmas at our house and this year everyone that came stayed at our house. Crazy? Yes. And awesome too!
Huge group sleepover sounds like an awesome way to spend Christmas!
Aww your christmas looked and sounded super special and fun. My family overdoes it on gifts and it becomes overwhelming. Lol
Haha! It can be hard to resist the urge to buy ALL THE THINGS!
Highlight of christmas!? My corgi in a reindeer outfit lol hope it was an awesome holiday!
That sounds ridiculously adorable 🙂