Family Cookie Bake 2012

Each year our families get together for a day of fun sugar cookie decorating.  Even after 30 plus years every child enjoys decorating a single sheet of cookies and taking their picture with it.....it is so fun to see all the cool decorating ideas and then the scrapbooks aunt Val and mom make using all the cookie pictures....wow, these kids have sure grown over the years, now their own husbands and kids are joining this family holiday tradition!!!

Happy Holiday Highlights 2012

Santa comes to Fort Mill, South Carolina

Santa's elves were up all night helping Santa get ready for the big night.  He was all set to visit Fort Mill when downstairs arose such a clatter...mommy sprang from her bed to see whats the matter.  Mason and Cari up in the middle of the night, sitting on the couch eating fruit snacks and watching cartoons...now that sure is a sight!  Mommy called to bed must you go or Santa's surprises will not stay and even the reindeers we heard with the sleigh.  Now what to mommy's wandering eyes did appear but a half played with dream house, scooters lying on the floor and presents half peaked at close to the door!!! These silly kids have been up all of night, what a merry christmas to all but mommy is calling it a night!!!

The next morning aka 2 hours later.....the kids were thrilled to have seen(in daylight) all the goodies Santa had brought them.  Ryder and Jack loved their new wagon, Mason and Carissa are now pros on their scooters and Carissa is thrilled with her Barbie Dream House.  Gaga sent them some great presents...theri favorites were....Ryder's Mickey Ride on Toy and Lawn Mower, Mason's Lego Vampire Castle and Carissa's Strawberry Shortcake Cash Register.  We are so blessed to have had such a nice Christmas and even more excited to be getting on a plane in a few short hours to surprise Gaga and Pa for Christmas this Year!!!!

The Holiday Shopper...best $20 ever spent

OK...so at first I was skeptical of this...Mason's school had a holiday shopping day where local vendors come to school and the parents give the kids money to shop for special xmas gifts. I am not one that likes to waste money on things "I think are silly" BUT we didnt want him to feel left out so I reluctantly gave him a check for $20 and a list of people he should consider shopping for along with discussing about how Christmas is a time for giving to others and not getting for himself.....well, I definately planned on him shopping for himself and was worried he would choose not to buy for one of his siblings....I told him he may not have enough money to shop for everyone and so we would take him out to get the rest. He came home saying he did his best...he could only buy for his family in his house because he didnt have enough money...BUT what made this experience totally worth it was the excitement in eyes...he was so proud of his shopping and could NOT wait to give everyone the gifts he chose for them. This made my heart happy to see him so thrilled about something AND not even concerned that he would be the only one not recieving a gift tonight.

Yes, he had to give them to us tonight because Christmas Morning in his eyes was a million miles away. After dinner we gathered around the tree and Mason passed out his gifts. He had Ryder open first and it was a small sqeezey rubber ducky...and I dont know who was happier? Ryder got the biggest smile about this little duck as he tore the paper off and Mason had a bigger smile to see how happy this made his little brother. Then he passed Jack his package and it was another little ducky. Thankfully Jack too smiles at everything:) Mom was next and he not only has made me two special cards at school this week but now this tiny package with a red beaded necklace and earrings....mommy thought they were so pretty....he told us how he had wanted to get that for Cari but thought the earrings would hurt her ears so he got it for mom instead:)

Next, he gave Cari her package and he could barely contain himself as he ripped it from her to help her open it..."Look Cari, it is a REAL gold necklace, made of REAL GOLD" Of course Cari loves some jewerly and was so excited to put it on. and last but not least was what I think was Mason's FAVORITE gift to give.....to Daddy As the paper tore from this small box Mason exclaims"Look Dad your very own......GUMBALL MACHINE!!! Yes, we now are the proud owners of this contraption that Mason has already modeled for us over and over....I bet this was the gift he wished he could have gave himself????

 

All and all this was maybe one of the best moments for me this holiday season...it was something completly OUT OF MY CONTROL and yet heartfelt at the same time....My little boy is growing up, making good choices and I can see he is learning from what we are teaching him.  Even though you look at what he actually brought home for $20, I think it ws the best $20 spent on gifts this holiday season...I'm not sure even Santa could top this!!!  And Mommy loved seeing Mason so full of spirit AND thanks!!!  I am so thankful my kids know that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and giving to others before themselves...something I had wondered if they understood but got a glimmer of today!!!

6th Annual Galbraith Cookie Exchange

Another great year with lots of good friends and yummy cookies....from wine to a hot chocolate bar, everyone had a nice evening visiting and snacking.  The kids thankfully were all fast asleep, yes, all 4! I was able to get enough fun favors and cookies made in time too.  It seems like this year everything I made had to be in large amounts...especially since Mason's Class has 30 students.  This year I made candy kiss bites, peanut butter cookies and sugar cookies.  Mom mailed a pretty cookie bouquet and helped make the adorable oreo elf feet I found on pinterest.  I made cute snowman hot chocolate packets, marshmallow ornament hooks for cocoa, candy cane heart suckers, and reindeer food for our friends families!!!  Was so nice to see everyone, especially those I have not seen alot throughout the year...hoping this year I can get the chance to get together more with them.  It is so nice to have such great people in our lives....cheers to some fun times and lots of COOKIES!