Christmas 2020

Christmas looked a little bit different this year, because I didn't have the boys on Christmas day. I was really hoping that Katie would invite me to Christmas, since I did the same for her last year, but she didn't. 

I decided that the boys won't know what day it is anyway, so I pretended December 23rd was Christmas eve and we got milk and cookies ready for Santa. 

They didn't sleep with me that night either, so there was no reading the Night before Christmas, and no tucking in two excited boys for bed that night. 

Katie brought them over the next morning and they were really excited to see what Santa had brought them.

A last goodbye message from Airplane the Elf.

One of their big gifts was this basketball arcade. Finn LOVES basketball and plays it all day long, so I knew it would be a big hit. Fox plays with it every once in a while. While this thing is collapsible, I had planned to make this an outdoor toy, but alas, it's the end of March and it's still sitting in our living room. Soon it will be too hot to play outside, so maybe I'll move it on the patio in the fall.

  

I invited the boys' grandparents and great-grandparents for breakfast that morning and GG had fun trying out the new game.

I heard Santa found this air hockey table for $30 on Facebook marketplace!

He is all about breakfast! Grandma made herself this plate and he just climbed up on the chair and claimed it.

After breakfast the boys opened their gifts. We always do stockings and Santa gifts when they first wake up and open the rest of the presents after breakfast.

The aftermath!

We played with our new toys for a while and then went to GG's house for dinner that afternoon.

Apparently these are the only two pictures I got that night. The entire family was there (including Katie and her girlfriend), and it felt really good to be able to celebrate with everyone this year. 

The next day felt really sobering to me. While I tried to pretend that it was just an ordinary day, I couldn't ignore the fact that this was the very first Christmas morning I had to spend without my kids. It was hard. 

That afternoon I went to Rene's (Katie's mom) house  and we had taco night with some of the family (the boys weren't there), which was nice and kept me distracted somewhat.

Overall, we had an amazing Christmas and I'm so happy that I will be able to have my boys this year for Christmas day!

Making cookies with Grandma

I had finals week in December, and had to take certain exams on specific days, and unfortunately they fell on the days I had my boys. While I could've taken them late at night when they were sleeping, I also knew that I would be tired and my concentration wouldn't be great, so I asked Grandma if she could watch them for a little bit while I took the exams online. She suggested to meet at her mom's house, so they could all make cookies together and the boys were all about it. 

It was so cute, they had everything prepared when we got there, Christmas music was playing, and I really wished that I could partake on the festivities instead of having to take my exams.

I ended up taking them in the back room and came out in between tests to snap some pictures.

Check out all of these cookies. They made me take all of them home, but funny enough, while the boys really enjoyed decorating them and eating a couple, they didn't want anything to do with them once we took them home. 

I really love that they organized this special time for them and I think they had just as much fun as the boys did.

Christmas at the farm

Almost April, and still re-capping Christmas time!

We had never been to this particular farm during Christmas before. It was a cold night, but we had fun walking around and seeing all the lights.

My kids are so weird about s'mores. Fox only likes the marshmallows and Finn will eat all of the items separately, but not together. 

All tuckered out after a great night!