InstaChristmaswiththeKings...

Merry Christmas from my iPhone...

I love pony tails and piggies... and really, what  could be cuter than both at the same time? Doesn't she look just like a little Who?

If y'all haven't discovered Joe Fresh at JCPenney then you are missing out. In fact, if you haven't been in a JCP in a while, you are missing out. We are life long Penney People so trust me when I tell you to shop there. GREAT stuff at affordable prices. 

#saveJCP

So we've been without a TV in our family room for about 7 months or so and survived. MaMaw came for a visit and didn't know how, so for Christmas she gave us the money to buy that "little" TV in the background. And the kids have spent HOURS.... playing with the box that it came in. 

(Side note - if any one is interested and able to extend that set of built ins all the way across the wall, feel free to come over. We pay in food and fun.)

They have also watched a few movies on it... the favorite is Rise of the Guardians. This was 9am and I had already given them popcorn and M&Ms of course. 

On Saturday, December 21, she decided we needed another tree. I decided... why not!? 

Turned out to be precious for a tree on a table!

Silent Night indeed! They LOVE sleeping next the Christmas tree... and I love waiting until they fall asleep to plug the tree back in and snap pics. 

Sunday night mass with the sweetest kids I know. Emmy and Landry are wearing their Christmas attire from last year and I am OBSESSED with that bubble on Landry. 

Alfie has been around and doing his thing... usually tied into the countdown activity for the day. He has written messages in M&Ms, hung from a wire, hidden in boxes and the Christmas tree... you know relatively low key. One day he helped prove a point by making a mess in the living room. Radley and Emmy thought it was HILARIOUS until they read the note that informed them they had to clean up the mess before they could play. 

He redeemed himself the next day when he brought a HANDwritten note back from Santa! (Thanks, Krista!) They talked and talked about this note and it's still on display in our house!

Christmas Day prepping included a reading by Pincess Emmy, birthday cake baking for baby Jesus and of course, the batch of Martino/Guercion gravy!

It also included "one more trip" for that final gift from Gigi. 

Every.single.year.

Then it was time to make meatballs. We only ate about half of them....that day.

Then off to Christmas Eve mass. My favorite mass of the year is Midnight Mass and I think next year I will finally be brave enough to go with the kids. I just love how the Priest walks in holding baby Jesus and lays him in the manger with Mary. I love the smells. And the music. And just everything about the celebration of His birth.

We bought some poinsettias in memory of Lola and Nana and know that they were having the best celebration with Him.

And then it was time for Santa to arrive... his loot included custom princess dresses, dolls, books, markers, blankets and an iPhone. 

We never got rid of my original iPhone... Best decision ever!!!

Landry really enjoyed all the clothes she got. They entertained her for a good 40 minutes.

We follow the Catholic tradition of keeping Jesus out of the manger until Christmas morning. We also move the wise men along their journey until epiphany when they finally arrived. I walked into Rad's room on Christmas morning and found this... how adorable is this? I guess he couldn't wait for Jesus to get his gifts! 

And that's Christmas in an instant!