Christmas Day

I need someone to tell my teens that they can sleep in later on Christmas Day. We tell them the soonest they can wake us up is 6 am and they are on the dot each year at that time. I know someday I'll miss it, but right now, lets sleep a little more. At least we can nap. They do always send Jackson in to wake us up. 

Each year we hide a scrap of paper that is 'their' paper. This year we put it in the books by the fireplace and it was the longest it took them to find it. 

This was Jackson's favorite thing he got, Back to the Future Lego. Randomly a few days ago he mentioned how cool this Lego was and how much it had with it, so Brad and I thought he knew his gift. But nope, he just saw it and thought it was cool and we just happened to get it. 

We put this one together, the crystal ship from Breaking Bad, that was a LOT smaller and it took about 2 hours. I don't know how long this car will take and I'm a little scared. 

Beck's favorite were some Candy Corn shoes.

Cam and Emery's favorite were their Air Pods and Emery loved her Uggs.

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve was a little different this year. Beckham worked in the morning, so we went to lunch instead of breakfast. Some still got breakfast foods though. We went to Biscuit and Hogs. It was good but very big portions. 

After opening up PJ's Cam had to go to work, someone called out sick, so he went in. We watched a movie, well Emery watched a movie and the rest of us slept a bit. 

We spent the evening playing games together.

I don't think Jackson enjoyed Rock Band as much as everyone else.

Our annual family Christmas Photo, we went with matching PJs this year. 

Beck tried to sleep early and the other three stayed in Cam's room and stayed up for about half the night. 

Brad and I set up and  then went to bed. We told them when they hear the sound machine turn on, they can go downstairs at that time to just look. Right when it turned on we heard them head downstairs. 

Date Night

 Camden had one special night left over for this year and he decided to do a double date to Barbacoa for it. Cailey hasn't ever been and he wanted to take her. It was a fun night talking with them and of course, really good food.

He had this whole Christmas plan for her but the first night he bought her flowers and asked me to arrange them. I am not creative at all, but with flowers, it's the thought that counts. 

Last Few Projects

A lot of the projects were just ornaments. I didn't realize until we were doing them. Emery and Jackson humored me the most with doing all of them. I thought it was fun, I hope they did too. 

Cute painted ornaments. 

Their air dry ornaments. They did need a little hot glue to hold them together after being painted. 

Another re-creating project was hand print tree, Santa or reindeer.  

Their favorite thing doing this before was how it felt to paint their hands., and that hasn't changed. 

Jacks has to know I love him, I painted and helped clean his foot, but it was for a good cause. 

Look how tiny and cute they were!

One night we dipped things in chocolate. They all were pretty tasty to each. 

There were a few days they got a treat in their socks, a few more movie days in there as well. I thought it was fun. Had mostly good participation, I asked them to humor me for a month and mostly they did. The last Christmas that I have my babies all living with me at home, it was nice to make that extra time for just family. 

Drawing Christmas

 Both boys worked again tonight but for our project tonight we did Christmas drawing tutorials. When we went to Disney in one of the parks there was a place you could go and every hour or so was a class that showed you how to draw different Disney Characters. Since then, we have had a few drawing nights, and the results are always fun. We did a snowman, Santa and a gingerbread man. 

Jacks'

Emery's

Brad's

Kilie's

Beckham

At work, Beck was voted Partner of the Quarter. I'm pretty sure the people in the store vote for it, so it's even cooler he got it. He also got to pick out any Starbucks cup he wanted. He really have loved working at Starbucks and the group he works with. 

We have talks with Cam and Beck about turning 18 and being an 'adult' but that doesn't make you an adult. Plenty of people are over 18 and can't act like or be an adult. One thing I've noticed is Beck thinking about others, or doing little things that aren't his job to do. We had snow another day this month and without us asking, he went out and shoveled the side walk. More than a handful of days I hear him emptying the dishwasher, picking up blankets left out and other things, just to name a few. He has loved his decision on graduating early, I have noticed him grow up the past few months and love seeing it. 

Projects

 We started Christmas project, first had to be a countdown. I knew they wouldn't care about a paper chain or gluing cotton onto Santa's beard, I knew it would have to be candy or it would just sit in their rooms. 

I got Frooties for each day, however, I didn't think much past that. I had an idea but it just didn't work with what we had. So everyone had to improvise, and they turned out, well they turned out. 

Cam used staples. Emery and Beck tape and Jacks used twist ties. 

We made gingerbread houses and had help from Grandma and Grandpa Arrington and Cailey to vote who won.

Emery won, but Jacks was a very close second. 

Another day there was a craft ornament maker. Emery and Jacks were the only home that night. but they turned out pretty good. 

Another with just two, we made air dry clay art. They are still drying but they look cute so far. 

One we did when they were younger was snowmen doughnuts. A lot more blood with these ones than the last ones. 

They were all too cute this little. 

We tried to make sugar cookies. I used a tube of dough and they melted for lack of better words. You can't really tell what any of these are but still fun to frost. 

Emery said I needed to make one, so this is what you get. 

We got pizza and watched Christmas short movies. The kids used to be obsessed with Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas and watched it non stop when they were little. It's still just as cute.