In keeping with this year's theme of toning down the Christmas season and focusing on quality instead of quantity, we also put that same emphasis on Christmas week. Samantha and I usually spend several days putting together a big production of a meal with numerous side events for the day of Christmas and surrounding days. When we realized that Samantha wasn't flying in December 23rd, we scaled back our menu and planning a bit.
We also filled our pre-Christmas plans with early morning workouts in the drive way and reward trips to the specialty coffee shop afterwards.
The holiday turned out to be one of our most "relaxing" yet and we are uncertain if the kids are just getting older and easier or if we really nailed down the perfect menu that compliments both ease and good tasting food.
Good weather also blessed us and everyone enjoyed some back patio time with tunes/dancing and creek exploring.
Christmas Eve with matching plaid pants and four-yr-old candle holders...
Leaving notes for Santa (who surprised the kids with a Grace American girl doll, ski boots, and a Nintendo switch rental.)
Checking out the Christmas morning loot...
Samantha's annual Southern Living cake was perfection- it was a plain white cake (a tad on the sweet side), but an easier one to decorate than in years past.
The rest of Christmas week was spent with a new Mary Poppins movie, neighborhood Christmas fun, outdoor puzzles, and lots of hand-holding with Aunt Samantha.
And on this "care-free" week of Christmas, I officially sign off from this blog. The platform has served its purpose of memory keeping for our family and entertainment and updating for some of you. We are moving to a new platform that will work in this next phase of life and I will continue to make updates to a new "thejordanjourneys" account on Instagram (that will once again be printed into books.) Thank you for your support and for growing with us over the last 8 years.
-Bethany
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