Christmas 2015 (finally!!!!!!!!)

I only felt it necessary to complete my Christmas 2015 posts the last day of January.

So here you go.  Lots of pictures and so much fun over the course of the few days leading up to Christmas!!!!

Casey and Aunt Lulu are the fun ones - they brought over these {premade, just have to assemble} gingerbread houses and went through the pain fun of putting them together with our kids.  Pretty much Charlie ate all the extras while Maddie tried to eat everything.

They turned out pretty darn well and Charlie was so sad when we had to toss them after Christmas was more than over!

I did make some cute teacher treats.  Thanks to Target for the adorable wrapping in the $1 section!  Just throw in some Target gift cards and homemade treats - and call it a win (who doesn't like Target!?)

The kids and I even tried to make presents for our neighbors.  We made the treats (on the left) and even wrapped them up super cute (thanks again, Target).  Alas, we never delivered them to our neighbors.  Ha.  I sent them all a picture telling them they *might* get them at our girls night the second week of January, but they were tossed and gone when I got back from London (I don't blame him), so it's just the thought that counts, right?!?!

And thank goodness - to top off my list, the morning of Christmas Eve while all still in our jammies, we went up to Bass Pro (nothing like last minute, eh?!) to see what the line was like for Santa!  Guess what?  Only 45 minutes - so that was just enough time for me to grab a fast pass thing and went jetted back home, I got the kids dressed (I'm still in pajamas, duh) and snapped a picture with Jolly Old St. Nick.  Charlie loved the race car track and Maddie posed everywhere. Typical.

No kid is smiling.  no kid is crying.  I'll call it a wash.

Christmas Eve, we went to church at 3PM and then all headed back to our house to meet some more family members for our annual Christmas Eve seafood fest.  There was SO.MUCH.FOOD.

Great-Granddaddy Bill, Papa Roger and the grandkids

Obsessed with Casey

Shrimp, Salmon, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes {not pictured: salad & red lobster biscuits!}

And best of all a table full of people.  So much fun!

Attempt at a family picture of just the Carter family.

Then some attempts at the Bruns/Carter/Future Burden clan!

OMG my sister's dessert. Heavenly!

Baths for the kids, matching PJs...and the cutest hugs I have ever seen.

Melt my heart.  After we wrote Santa his letter and left him and his reindeer some goodies, it was time for bed!

After the kids were in bed - mom had an epic meltdown.  Like epic.  But seriously, it was borderline ridiculous and of course, Jimmy handled my craziness like a champ.  Per usual.  He sent me to bed too.

Christmas morning and everyone was SOOOO excited.  Maddie loved her doll high chair.  So much she sat in it.  And tried to lay in the matching crib - that she then broke.  I guess it's not made for 28lb dolls.  Someone tell an 18 month old that.

Present time!! 

These kids were totally spoiled with the big present from Lulu, Casey, Nana and Papa - a CAR!

And then dad opened his present...an XBox 1!  Man, Nana is nice!

And of course - everyone LOVED the Fuf that I got Jimmy (a giant bean bag).  And also the surprise amazing blankets that my aunt made Charlie and Maddie - she's the best!

Mom even got a fun present - love these!  And need them so bad!

We played a little during the day, it was our turn to bake Baby Jesus' birthday cake, then it was time for naps!  (FOR ALL!)

We headed to the Carter's house for a final Christmas celebration!  Will got the Pie in the Face game and it was soooo fun!  Even Maddie participated (Charlie was too nervous!)

...we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus...

And ended the long day with a night full of wrestling with our cousin...

It was an amazing Christmas 2015!  We had so much fun (and why is it so exhausting as a parent too!?!?) and Charlie is already talking about Christmas next year.  ha ha!