The most wonderful time of the year...

This holiday season was the first time since Evan and I got married that we decided to stay home (not including the year Colton was born, since he was due on Christmas day and slightly hampered our traveling plans).  We kicked off the Christmas season with a visit to Santa, to verify that Santa was up to speed on Christmas wish lists.

This picture cracks me up.  Is this the Christmas card, thug edition?  Seriously the boys' faces are too much.

And cue the classic Santa picture.  Oh Delaney, she was so miserable and devastated that we left her on this strange man's lap.  She's not a huge fan of men in general and one with a huge beard and red hat?  No thank you.

For Christmas Sunday, Evan's mom was nice enough to sew the kids matching outfits.  Delaney's dress was seriously too cute and as someone who struggles sewing on a button, I'm beyond grateful to Oma for using her skills to dress the kids up.  Not the best picture of Delaney but again, Colt and his GQ pose could not go unposted.

Since all of my siblings were at their in-laws or staying home this year, my parents decided to not spend Christmas alone and come to Chicago instead.  Lucky us!  I had a list of traditions I wanted to start for our family and my mom was nice enough to head up sugar cookies with the kids.  I used Our Best Bites recipe (I'm obsessed with their cookbooks lately) and they did not disappoint.  I have a lot of great memories of making sugar cookies when I was a kid so it was fun to pass that on to my family.

I also decided we should try gingerbread houses.  I was busy baking in the kitchen so I asked Evan to take charge with the construction.  After some failed attempts (something about watered down icing and collapsing houses) Evan announced that this tradition was off the list.  For the record, after a new batch of icing that did not include a drop of water, the houses turned out just fine.  We'll see if I can convince Evan to add it back to the list for next year.

How Delaney spent her house making time.  I'm not sure if the boys had any M&M's left to decorate with.

I can't remember the last time that Evan had time off and we didn't travel somewhere.  It made for some fun days hanging out around Naperville.  One of them was spent as Cade would say, "Climb rocking."

Christmas Eve dinner.  My parents were nice enough to buy a prime rib and I felt a tad bit of pressure not to mess up such an expensive cut of meat!  Another Best Bites recipe and a fancy meat thermometer and luckily for me, a success.

Here the kiddos are in their Christmas Eve pajamas, milk and cookies for Santa set out, Christmas story read, nativity scene acted out, and on their way to bed.  And my Christmas present?  Having all three kids looking at the camera at the same time smiling!  My own little Christmas miracle.