One of the best Christmases ever.

Sammy-Mae · December 2012

This year we hosted Christmas for the first time. The first of my family arrived on Friday night and everyone left today and nobody wanted to go home and we weren't ready for them all to leave. Considering there were 11 of us in the house I was sure everyone would have been beating a path out of here yesterday. The only reason everyone went home was because of the freaking snowstorm we were getting and we had no idea how long they would be snowed in if they stayed.

I have two major highlights that I want to share.

1. My favorite part of the whole week was when my kids opened their stockings. Santa brings them to their bedrooms so they can wake up as early as they want and have something to do. There was a huge pile of presents under the tree and we had to be done opening them before 9:00 because my brother had to take his little girl to his ex's in time for lunch on Christmas. So at 6:00 I went and woke up DD and got to be there when she saw her stocking. I knew this year was really about her because at this age it's all magic and there is no doubt about Santa being real. DD woke up and said, "He was really here? He flewed into my bedroom?!" and then looked into her stocking. Her face lit up when she saw that Santa had brought her the little etch a sketch she had liked so much when we were shopping for her brother's present. She was so excited about all the little toys in the stocking that I was pretty sure my morning was made right there.

Then I heard DS wake up and find his stocking in his bed. I figured he wouldn't care. Oh he cared all right. Santa really had his number because in it was a mixing spoon, a cookie monster cell phone and a stuffed lalaloopsy pirate. He was so happy he was singing and talking on his phone and showing me the spoon and holding his new doll all at the same time. And I got to share those moments with my kids without anyone else and it was so special.

2. I snooped when my mother in law was making her famous turkey and saw what her secret was to keeping it so freaking tender and amazing so when I made the turkey I used my mom's stuffing recipe that is voted by all as the best stuffing ever and my MIL's turkey secrets and created an amazing turkey dinner. I floored all of my family with how good it was. Including DH who told me he though ti was as good if not better than MIL's.

The rest of the weekend was filled with movies, boardgames and fun in the snow. I swear to god I don't think that anyone would have gone home today if they hadn't been forced to by the weather. We had so much fun. We only have a few more days left of DH's holidays. I think tomorrow we are going to book our disney vacation and then on the 5th I am going to see Billy Elliot with DH. I am super excited about it all.