Happy New Year! I am back! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve gotten behind the keyboard! The last few weeks were just as crazy as everyone else’s…all of the Christmas things happening! But it is 2017 now! Christmas is a magical haze and we are on to bigger better things, and better yet, back to routine! To start the year off fresh, I wanted fill you all in on our last few weeks and how I want to start off the new year!
Christmas was nothing less than magical. Celebrating the holidays with children makes everything that much better! I wrote previously about how we limit our Christmas gifts and this year was no different. I always have last minute hesitations though…because I hear what others are giving and I get nervous they will be disappointed! But they were no where near disappointed. They loved everything they received and never questioned anything! They were so grateful and happy…and that is all I ever wanted!
We had a great time visiting with family and friends over the weeks. Erik’s brother and sister-in-law were out from Colorado this year so his entire family was together for Christmas for the first time in I don’t know how long! It was so nice to have everyone together and to get to catch up!
We started a new tradition this year, The Giving Manger. I really try and incorporate Jesus in Christmas as much as I can! I want the kids to understand the reason for the season! This was perfect and they really enjoyed working at gaining straw for baby Jesus’ manger! On Christmas morning we laid baby Jesus in his manger and it was such a happy moment. I really recommend The Giving Manger to everyone! Learn more about it here!
We also squeezed in our activities from our Advent calendar! Some of the things we did were: drive around and look at Christmas lights, enjoy hot cocoa, read the story of Jesus, read ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, and many more fun things! Here are some pictures of the kids opening gifts Christmas morning!
It all went by in such a blur! New Years Eve came and we just stayed home and celebrated with the kids! Erik’s parents came over for a while and we hung out, snacked and played games with the kids. We all gave in by 11 o’clock though so we missed the excitement of the ball dropping and such. Erik and I decided that an 11pm kiss and a better rested family was the best way to ring in the new year! (Plus we had two more Christmas parties that weekend so we needed the rest!)
And now it is 2017! We have all gone back to work and back to school. Homework, religion and other activities have all resumed. It’s hectic but there is something so refreshing about the routine!
Now that another year has past, I have thought a lot about what this new year will bring, not only for me, but for my family as well. I have never been one who made resolutions or heavy goals but this year there are a lot of things I have been thinking about……..but that is another post 😉
Happy New Year to all of you! Thanks for following along for my first year! I can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store!
