Christmas Eve 2011

After getting home from my dad's on Christmas Eve I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Santa and then we got to the business of opening presents. Our family opens gifts from each other on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is all about Santa. So after the cookies were baked we divided everything and got down to it. Every year Max is more fun. And in the end I think we all got some really nice stuff. Jeff got some baseball cards he was wanting and a few other things, and I got a new camera and a Fossil purse I have been wanting just to name a few.

I think Jeff and I finally did good about not going to crazy with the gifts. The past few years there were WAY to many gifts. We had a nice balance this year.

Toy Story Figures that turned out to be Maxwell's favorite gift that night.

 Helping Daddy open a present.

The last day of school Max came home with a package marked for Jeff and I. I was so curious the whole time and was happily surprised to find this from Maxwell.

And of course it's not Christmas Eve without reading The Night Before Christmas before bed.

Richardson Christmas

After I got off work on Christmas Eve the Browns packed up and made the trip a little less than 10 miles to my dad's house. We had our typical dirty Santa exchange and the my nephews and Max opened presents. It was a good time just hanging out and spending time together. I made out like a bandit too. I got the gift I brought (a cookie press and cookie jar), and Jeff's (Pampered Chef gift certificate) booyah!

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Andrea got Max Chuck the Tonka Truck that comes with a cool track.

 Clearly he loved it!

My Jeff decided to get 120 batteries for his Dirty Santa gift. Poor Andrea got stuck with those.

My nephews got some good stuff too!

Christmas Lights

Apparently I jinxed myself by saying we were on the mend at my house when I really meant to say that Maxwell was on the mend. I however have finally conquered bronchitis just in time for Christmas. And, ***knock on wood*** looks like the boys are dodging this bullet. On Saturday before I came down with bronchitis we went out with my brother Jake and sister-in-law Brittney to dinner. Afterward we all piled into the Jeep stopped for hot chocolate and went around town looking at lights. We went back to Chesapeake again this year and it delivered as usual. Then we went to some posh neighborhoods and looked around. We ended it in Edmond at some houses that we heard a lot about. Plus the best house that I saw was a house just Max and I went and saw the night before, FANTASTIC! Overall it was a nice evening out and ended with Max falling asleep on Aunt Brittney's baby bump.

Chesapeake

Nichols Hills (side note, but has anyone noticed that not as many people puts lights up this year?)

This house was here in Edmond and it doesn't look like much but the house was set to music over a low power radio signal and flashed with the beat.

My personal favorite from the night before.

A Crafty Christmas!

Max and I have been fighting colds this past week and so we haven't done much except lay around watching Christmas movies and eating ice cream. Today is my first day back at work and Max missed 3 days of school but I think we are on the mend. I cant wait for the days of if Max is sick I get sick to be done. So while we were feeling sick we did get around to doing a couple things for Christmas and one was to make salt dough ornaments. We made them for us and for Maxwell's teachers. Along with their gifts I wanted them to have something that Max made too. We gave soup mixes from a little place here in Oklahoma that I got at Affair of the Heart, and a nice loaf of bread from a local bakery. I think it went over well, but really what do I know. I was just trying to avoid the usual candles and lotion gift. Also we have 6 teachers/ therapist to buy for so I had to think economical. Making the ornaments was pretty fun. I had to let go a little and just let the ornaments be. Max was having to much fun I didn't want to stop him. Toward the end we had a pretty good groove working.

My little helper is kneading the dough!

Max and I had different ideas of how to use the rolling pin. Thank goodness I decided to put him in play pants before we started making the ornaments.

On a side note I am LOVING the oil cloth mat that I got from Affair of the Heat a few months ago. One of my best purchases there!

In the oven to bake and they are ready to go!

A Special Message For Maxwell

Click HERE to see a special message for Maxwell!!!

Movie Attempt Take 2

I took Max to go see the new Muppet Movie with my dad. If you'll remember I took Max to see Cars 2 this summer. This time was a little better and we only missed the last 20 minutes. So maybe in a few months we will make the entire thing, fingers crossed!

Fuzzy but I have to work with what I have.

Parade of Lights

Last night was the annual Parade of Lights in downtown Edmond. It was just as I remembered last year and what was even better was we had the new car this year so we piled some blankets in the back and it was a great for blocking the wind. We also met up with Silas and Nicholas which is always a good time!

Santa Clause has come to town!

Santa has made it to town and while I'm on vacation this week we decided to take Max for a little visit. There was no line and it was really great because Max signed to Santa what he wanted, a car, a dinosaur and a book, and Santa even signed back a little. Max was so excited he was all smiles! When the helper moved the velvet rope Max couldn't seem to run fast enough to a waiting Santa with open arms. The picture doesn't even begin to show how excited Max was.

Christmas Helper

The tree has been trimmed and the stockings hung with care. And the best part was that this was the first year that Max helped. Mind you helping included Max putting on about 6 ornaments and taking off half as many. But he put on more ornaments than daddy since he was napping so it was nice to have a helper. Max is really starting to understand more about the magic of Christmas and that is making tis year even more fun!

 

2011 Christmas Card

The official unveiling of our Christmas Card will help open the Christmas season. Have I mentioned I LOVE  this time of year!!!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.