Full Hearts

Linking with Joanne at Slices of Life for Talking About It Tuesdays

Recapping our fun full weekend today, because Monday was spent getting the house back in order and preparing for Christmas round two. 

It's an in-law year here for my girls so we had an early celebration. I don't know that this will happen every in-law year, but it worked for this one. Now that daughter1 and her family live nearby logistics are far less complex, and for that we're so grateful. 

As per usual I'm looking right when I'm supposed to look left. I blame lack of sleep. 

Daughter2 and her family rolled in from Tennessee on Friday around noon. They brought their new addition with them and we all got to meet Banjo. He's a love and handled all the kid chaos really well. 

The little brown dog tolerated him. He isn't a fan of other dogs, and much prefers people, specifically his person, but he also knows where there are kids there's going to be food dropped so he rolls with it. 

Daughter1 and her hubs had a work party to attend Friday evening, so they brought their crew over here for dinner and shenanigans. I made a big pan of baked ziti, then after dinner we loaded everyone into the cars for a trip to town to see the phenomenal lights our tiny town displays. 

The party goers came back here after and we put kids to bed and watched some football. The adrenaline was off the charts but everyone went down pretty easily saying, 'the sooner we go to bed, the sooner it will be morning'. Truth! 

Saturday morning the two oldest grandsons, who normally sleep like teenagers,  were up at 6:30 AM. Little Miss had gone home with her parents the night before so we had to wait for them to arrive before we could have breakfast and presents. 

Finally! 

Sugar opened her vacuum and promptly cleaned every rug in the house. This little toy actually sucks up dirt, not a lot but still it's doing something. My daughter said as soon as they got back to their house on Sunday she got right to vacuuming there. 

Remember when running the vacuum was a good time???

We gave sweet baby J a bank that works kind of like an ATM and he spent the day opening and closing it, feeding it money, taking the money out, and just carrying it around under his arm. I love when a present is a hit! 

We bought the two older boys remote control planes which I thought might have been a scam, because they took forever to arrive, but they made it just in time and it's almost as complicated as flying an actual jet lol. Dad helped and once he got them working showed the boys and I think they'll have so much fun with them as they get better at the operating system. 

Little Miss got a purse from her auntie M that she wore on her arm all day, and lots of princess, pink, sparkly, girly girl things which are so much fun to buy. 

I love seeing my girls love their sister's babies. 

We had snacks mid-afternoon and the kids played so nicely together. 

You forget what your countertop looks like with littles in the house. 

Hubs grilled the most amazing ten pound prime rib roast on the big green egg which everyone enjoyed. 

Daughter2 and her bunch left to go home shortly after breakfast Sunday morning. Hubs and I put some of the kid stuff away before heading over to the grandson's piano recital around 2. They've been taking lessons for just over a month and they each went right to the piano and played without missing a beat. 

We were home for a couple of hours afterwards before heading out again, this time to church for the carols and candlelight service. So lovely! Plus, Little Miss, who can be a bit hesitant in big groups, sashayed right up to the front of the sanctuary when they asked the kids to come up and sing This Little Light of Mine. Truly one of my most favorite moments of the entire holiday season. 

Also, daughter2 got everyone together to snap a photo, which is a little bit like herding cats, but she gets my momma heart. 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good week!