Merry Christmas!!!
So! This Christmas we had a lot of down time--it was blissful! On Christmas Eve, besides taking these pictures, we had a super yummy dinner of ham and cheesy potatoes (so that Robert had lots of ham leftovers to take camping at the Dismal Swamp:)). We also started a new tradition that comes from Iceland! It's called Jolabokaflod! And it means Christmas Book Flood.
Basically, the idea is that everyone gets new books and we all sit together, cozy and warm, and read books before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. Everyone loved it! Although Mark got a book that was a little too complex for him...so he had to grab another book. But otherwise it all worked just like I imagined it!
On Christmas morning, magically, no one woke us up before 7:30! The kids had opened their stockings before we got up but were pretty quiet overall. We put our morning bake in the oven, kids grabbed some Fruit Loops (which we only buy once a year) and started opening gifts.
This year we also decided to focus more on getting experiences than gifts. So although kids still got a few presents from us and presents from each other, they also received "certificates" for going to movies together (at a planned date and time we saw "Wonder") and going as a family to "Defy Gravity" which is one of their favorite places to go to and is not cheap. Stuff like that.
The kids have become harder and harder to shop for as they don't have extensive lists of desired toys or whatever any more. Alex just wanted to get a phone...which he still didn't...poor child. He got lots of pajama pants though😜. He is growing like weed and I can't keep up with his trousers.
For dinner we had our traditional Christmas dinner with English sausages and mash potatoes. The sausages were hard to find but I managed to get them from a butcher's chop in Cary. Butcher shops are hard to come by around here so this one is actually called "The Butcher's Market" and if you are into meat, this is the place to shop for some good cuts. For me, it's once a year thing.
So! This Christmas we had a lot of down time--it was blissful! On Christmas Eve, besides taking these pictures, we had a super yummy dinner of ham and cheesy potatoes (so that Robert had lots of ham leftovers to take camping at the Dismal Swamp:)). We also started a new tradition that comes from Iceland! It's called Jolabokaflod! And it means Christmas Book Flood.
Basically, the idea is that everyone gets new books and we all sit together, cozy and warm, and read books before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. Everyone loved it! Although Mark got a book that was a little too complex for him...so he had to grab another book. But otherwise it all worked just like I imagined it!
And yes, we took some pictures too.
And the kids got new pajama trousers that were all Star Wars themed:)
And we also forgot to make cookies for Santa, but no one noticed...so oh well.
Here is a Christmas Eve picture from last year!
On Christmas morning, magically, no one woke us up before 7:30! The kids had opened their stockings before we got up but were pretty quiet overall. We put our morning bake in the oven, kids grabbed some Fruit Loops (which we only buy once a year) and started opening gifts.
This one is my favorite:) Mark is the best at giving funny presents. "Sup Gnomie!"
This year we also decided to focus more on getting experiences than gifts. So although kids still got a few presents from us and presents from each other, they also received "certificates" for going to movies together (at a planned date and time we saw "Wonder") and going as a family to "Defy Gravity" which is one of their favorite places to go to and is not cheap. Stuff like that.
Katya got some money to get new clothes and lots of warm and fuzzy things like socks, scarves and hats. She loves that.
Mark's "I am in awe" face, or so he says. He was hoping to get a bucket of green dot tennis balls and he got them!
The kids have become harder and harder to shop for as they don't have extensive lists of desired toys or whatever any more. Alex just wanted to get a phone...which he still didn't...poor child. He got lots of pajama pants though😜. He is growing like weed and I can't keep up with his trousers.
For dinner we had our traditional Christmas dinner with English sausages and mash potatoes. The sausages were hard to find but I managed to get them from a butcher's chop in Cary. Butcher shops are hard to come by around here so this one is actually called "The Butcher's Market" and if you are into meat, this is the place to shop for some good cuts. For me, it's once a year thing.
I love how Mark is using his knife and fork still (like he was taught in English school). He doesn't do it all the time at dinner, but at least he knows how:)
We even managed a Christmas dinner selfie!
It was a great peaceful Christmas and we like this way.
Lyana.
No comments:
Post a Comment