The Christmas Post

There are 21 pictures in this post, just so you know.

Christmas has come and gone, but we are still celebrating in our little corner of the world: time with each other, making traditions, going on adventures and the awesomeness of two little boys in sweaters vests.

 Christmas was a little odd this year, in the 6 years that Kev and I have been together, this was the first one where we had no where else to be. We missed our families and the hustle and bustle of the holidays (although were very grateful we were just on the East Coast for Thanksgiving) but also enjoyed a our time at our own home. We were able to skype with both our families, and that helped ease the strangeness of not actually being with them.

It has been raining like crazy in Monterey this month and it cleared up on Christmas Eve just enough for the boys to play in the mud. I would be a terrible, terrible mother if I didn't let them play in this.

 After mid-afternoon baths, we cleaned up as best we could and headed down to Carmel for Mass. C was not too thrilled about going to church two days in a row (especially when he found out there were no doughnuts after Christmas Church).

After a wonderful reminder about the Jesus coming to help us be good', we were back home for dinner, another bath, new PJs and cookie making for Santa. Cullen was beyond hyper at this point. Bennett just wanted to eat the dough.

 The boys went to bed without a hitch (although C wanted Kev and I to go to bed right away too so Santa would come) and the morning was just as magical as we hoped. The first words out of Cullen's mouth? HOLY MOLEY!

 The first present. I love this picture because Bennett so often look to his big brother for guidance and it was such a pleasant surprise to catch it on camera (I will likely eat those words when they are 18 and 16).

 Santa's leftovers.

 Leave it to Bubs to find them. 

No one is stopping me from eating this cookie for breakfast, Best. Day. Ever!

 Bennett got Cullen new bath toys. Cullen loved them. This picture kind of makes me want to cry.

 The ever-giving child, Cullen wrapped some of his trains up for his Teddy so that Teddy wouldn't be sad on Christmas. We all had to watch Teddy take his turn opening gifts as well. (C is also the one who remember to get a gift for the dog.)

 If you have been around here for a while, you know how much my boys love to help me cook. This play mixer was the end of B's Christmas. He stopped opening gifts after this and practiced making cookies the rest of the morning. C was totally okay with this because he got to open everything else, 9/10 gifts he had been waiting for his whooooole life!

 This is my morning face, I apologize for that. But look at those sweet dimples. The joy that C exhibited all morning was so sweet.

 B on the other hand was too busy for cuddles... 

Leave me alone, I want to find more cookies. And besides, all I wanted for Christmas were more bottom teeth.

The big finale: a kitchen (Thanks Nana and Pop!)

 Which ultimately, was how Kev spent the better part of his Christmas morning.

 But they sure do love it. 

 After Christmas naps, we had two families over for Christmas dinner. I didn't take a single picture, but luckily, my friend Traci did and I stole them off of facebook. 

1. Festive table with my china

2. Bennett and the ladies, Charli and Alivia

3. The kids table

4. Christmas cocktails

And so ended our Christmas celebration.

Wednesday we left the house to go out to lunch, and that was it. Bennett spent the morning like this:

And today we ventured out to Salinas and went to the National Steinbeck Center and to Five Guys (Five Guys may have been the catalyst behind the trip). Unfortunately, my camera isn't staying charged (left my good charger in VA) so I don't have any good pictures from that, but it was a neat museum and my little bacon cheeseburger was everything I wanted it to be. 

Hope your holiday week has been amazing. I am slowly working my way around all the blogs I didn't read last week and I look forward to reading about your celebrations.

Now, go make the most of the last few days of 2012!