Christmas has become my favorite holiday since we’ve had kiddos.
It just seems so much more magical and joyous seeing Christmas through their eyes.
I also have loved creating traditions as a new and growing family and even carrying on traditions from our own upbringings.
This December I decided to lay aside a few traditions and we did the traditions that felt effortless and fun, but not an ounce overwhelming. In years past, I found myself to caught up and overwhelmed by too many activities. My deciding factor was the moment I found myself upset, even annoyed, with my kids because of an activity advent calendar we set up that wasn’t going as “planned”. And if we didn’t do one days’ activity, I felt like I was failing.
It was ridiculous. I may pick it back up as they grow older, or maybe not.
More than anything, I want the holidays to be filled with joyous memories, not memories of momma flippin’ out (I already do enough of that :))
One of those we did keep this year was our Christmas Eve tradition of new jammies, a new book and a new game. We get dressed, drive around to see christmas lights, and then come back home for our new story, game and hot cocoa! Here are photos from that evening:
What made this Christmas especially exciting was the pink jammy’d girly pictured. Ever’s first Christmas!
Reality struck as quickly as the camera clicks. :) 
Looking back over the years… I am in awe of Chase’s lankiness now and how quickly Shailo’s baby-boy look turned big-boy.
And my oh my, please note how {adored} Ev is by her brothers!
Our Shai is a bug-lovin’ boy! So we planned a bug party for this amazing little guy!
Basically I went really simple:
-We put a little bit of dirt and bugs in the kiddos pool so they could “dig for bugs”
We did a “worm” cake but of course! I think he liked it ;)
LOVE THIS AMAZING LITTLE WILD AND CRAZY BOY!
you’d think the eldest beautiful boy, with model-like hair (seriously SO JEALOUS), would be the ring leader. the mastermind. while, sometimes that’s true… most cases, his little brother is the mastermind. the one who pushes the limits. Chaseyboy, though he can be mischievous at times, he is mostly a follow the rules kinda kid. he does argue an awful lot and want everything to be explained well ;) but he isn’t typically the rule breaker of the two.
Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove!
Aladin, just in case you couldn’t tell ;) I personally loved this one, hehe. I knew the songs word for word. Reminded me of grade school and a creative speech I had to give. I did the scene from when Genie is released from the lamp! HAHA!
The evening ended with all of the princesses and princes coming out as couples and skating. It was really pretty but to be honest, it also made my heart ache a little bit. Maybe this is a bit heavy for this post, but I couldn’t help but think of our Eisleygirl. As silly as it may seem, I mean we were at a Disney show, I wondered how different this evening would have been with her along with us. Perhaps dressed in a little princess outfit and perhaps we would have known the scenes from Tangled and The Princess and the Frog, etc. Or maybe she’d be dressed as a pirate along with her brothers. :) Ever so often that evening I felt little aches in my heart, but mostly we had a really wonderful time.
In the moments like that night, where my heart tends to ache, it also helps to guide my heart towards a deep gratefulness; for the moments I had that night, with my children that are here with me. I am overwhelmed and thankful, for even the silly, fun and goofy nights like this one – to the ones at home where I’m watching and listening to my little ones play.
We watched the Veggie Tales Easter story and got to work. Chaseyboy took it oh. so. seriously. :)
Shailo just shoved his hands right in (thankfully this washed off!)
“What’s gunna work? Teeaaam work!” 
I love the shots above. He’s getting so big! (He’ll be a 1 1/2 next month!)
We dyed some and then wrote on some with colourful sharpies.
This room is a collection of thrifted + gifted items from over the years (the most expensive thing I paid for was the $20 orange rug from IKEA – that’s really not a bragging point, but just to say, I’m a cheap-o and also, to hopefully encourage thrifting, because I know it works! ) I started collecting vintage toys since before we were pregnant with Chase. It has always been a small dream of mine to do a vintage inspired bedroom/playroom – if we are ever blessed with another girl I think this dream will come into fruition even more so!
As you enter your eyes might be a tad overwhelmed ;) It is a bit of a colour explosion.
You might remember the 
I hung an outfit both boys wore when they were infants. I also framed one of Chaseyboy’s first toys – it was well loved as you can see ;) The cars prints are from IKEA as well as the white frames. The ‘love’ Chase painted a while back.
On top of the changing table: a cute pillow friend my mom made Chase two Christmases ago. I also put their basket of musical toys up high for special times when my ears can handle the banging symbols ;)
We’ve barely used the changing table for what it is really for – to change kiddos. We mostly have used it for storage. I thrifted the baskets that hold Shailo’s jammies and paints/comfy clothes. The bottom drawer holds the awkward sized toys that can’t fit into bins very well.
Some art I made for the boys room with a few quotes I love.
The pendant banner is made of felt + string. It was decor I made for Shailo’s 1st birthday party.
Clouds + Shailo’s 1st year painting! Didn’t his turn out super cute?! 
I absolutely LOVED these curtains from the moment I saw them in an IKEA catalog. They were a whopping $15. Notice, I didn’t actually hang them with a rod. I just simply hung them with pins! They have yet to be torn down and they’ve been up for months now.
It is a blessing to have both a mother and a mother-in-law who are seriously gifted in sewing. My mom has made these cute little stuffed animals for each of our kiddos!
This AMAZING piece of art is one my sister, Abie, did. She took a photo of Chase and I and re-created it with, get this, ONLY the words ‘You are my sunshine’ over and over. Isn’t that AMAZING?!
We’ve all seen the crayon art on Pinterest – when it was becoming popular, a mom’s group I was a part of in Fort Collins did it! It was actually a lot of fun, mine of course, was a sun for my “sunshines” :) Below that is Chase’s 
This dresser was really nothing special. So I decided to add green and star knobs from Hobby Lobby! The mesh blue hanging organizer I thrifted but found out it is actually from IKEA! It holds dress up things and sometimes toys and stuffed animals – depending on what Chase puts in it.
From left to right: The little picture frame which holds the first photo of Chase and Shailo (when he first met his baby brother) was actually made by Ted when he was a kiddo! The other painted frame – Chase and his friend Anthem each painted one before his friend moved away to Georgia recently. It holds a photo of the boys in a tent at their first sleepover! The skateboard I thrifted when Chase was a baby (hope to made skateboard shelving when they are older) and the blocks spell out our boys’ middle names. To the right: close up of the alphabet lamp I thrifted.
These little white shoes were Ted’s when he was a baby! Next to it is the Willow Tree ‘brothers’ figure I bought for Christmas and a gum ball machine I added thrifted glass marbles to.
The closet is my LEAST favourite spot in this room and you can imagine why :) But I am thankful for this toy organizer.
I thrifted both the toy organizer and this vintage shelving! I love the little vintage print with the train and fox.
For a day time “hang out” with our friends in Georgia (via Skype) and an evening with my dear friend, Chey.
Watching my siblings love on my kiddos and my kiddos love on my siblings. This always makes my heart so full. Can’t wait to someday have nephews and nieces to adore!
For a few days with my beautiful, Aussie friend, Alanna. The last time I saw her I was overdue with Chase. She left just a week before he was born. It was so incredible to introduce her to our boys and to spend time with her!
For precious time with our friends Alanna and Josh – visiting the zoo, but of course ;)
For a skype sesh with our dear friends that moved away. Here is a photo of our boys playing snakes “together” from afar. At one point they even said, “I love you.” on their own accord! So thankful for Skype and amazing friends.
…and tons of chalk dust and laughter. :)
