Wild & Three Thursday!

Oh heavens so much. It is the day after the hoopla of the what I considered an over the top commercialized holiday. I am thankful that we personally have worked VERY hard to keep it in check over the years. It is hard. But when you just give it a hard look you should easily be able to see that less is more.

Not long after our daughter was born we started the three gift rule patterned after the number of gifts provided to baby Jesus. We did not "do" Santa Claus, yep, crazy I know. Don't judge us and we won't judge you. It's all about choices and we made the one to go without the Christmas clown eons ago. Our daughter now has chosen not to bring the jolly old man in on a large scale role in her daughters life. They make reference to "the farmer" and tackle discussions as they come without much fanfare. I like it. Whatever and however you celebrate the Christmas season is your choice but we do take the Jesus's Birthday approach with emphasis on the age old story of the Savior's birth in a manger when there was no room at the inn.

We started on Christmas Eve with our traditional pizza dinner along with a drive around town to look at Christmas lights. There were lots of "smiley's" which are snowmen in our world and the little one loved it. A new thing we did this year was decorate a gingerbread house and sugar cookies. It was lots of fun and everyone got in on the action. We will try to keep this up next year. We ended with playing several rounds of Farkle. This has become a nightly ritual; playing several rounds of Farkle after the little one is in bed.

Christmas Day started with cinnamon rolls and stockings! It was all good and filled with lots of laughter. My what a little one can do for your perspective. She is a hoot. Next was the opening of the "snowmen". Then a concentrated effort on a ham dinner with all the fixings and a pumpkin pie to boot.

 Her own SMILEY!

All ready and waiting. The snowmen are their gifts...three just like baby Jesus received. 

Throughout the day gifts from the rest of the family were opened in spurts. Taking time out to play with what was received helped not to get to wrapped up in the plentiful packages. We actually "reloaded" the tree. Christmas Eve was set with the Grands from LaLa's side and Christmas PJs to wear that night. Christmas morning was stockings, her Christmas from her parents and their snowmen from us. Christmas afternoon and evening were from her other Grands, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Whew, what a full, fun day we had. Tomorrow we head back to MO as impending weather moving in make it the best travel day.