Merry Little Christmas

Merry Little Christmas to All.
Another wonderful, blessed year and season of celebration for our Savior’s birth. In the excitement of Santa Claus and his reindeer, we had our Little Christmas in Abilene with the Berg’s.

This year was quite eventful. My baby brother, Landon, and his wife, Lauren, were getting geared up to move to the freezing cold in Pittsburgh, PA. Lesley just got engaged and is planning an event sometime in the near future. Landry had her very first Christmas and Miss Laney continues to keep us all on our toes. These are the days.

In a nutshell, we began by spending Christmas Eve all over Abilene, Texas. We went to Madie's to visit with the Crowell family. Then we headed back to my parents to get ready for Santa. Then Matthew and I went to the midnight service at St. Paul's. (I am not a night owl and staying awake was trying. I woke up with swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat. I am just not as tough as I used to be!)
Laney got her robe from Matthew and me early. She was always wearing mine and we decided this was a necessity. Laney wanted a "pink sparkly" robe and this was the best I could do with a peace sign on it. She loves it though!

 Before we left for church we had to make reindeer food. This contains oatmeal, sprinkles, and glitter. The food turned green! We left it with Santa's cookies. The reindeer seemed to like it too.

 Bumpaw read the girls "T'was the Night Before Christmas." Then we had to go search for Santa. We made it about five minutes before both girls were asleep. Still, M and I were able to see the house on Palm and 20th/Butternut with the synchronized lights and the radio. How do people do that?! It was very pretty.





I have come to know that a Christmas with the Berg's is anything but little. In fact, it is quite grandiose with silly presents and Santa Larry. A little background on my youth but my grandmother, Marjorie Berg, loved Christmas Time. It was her favorite season of the year and she always went BIG. She was an only child and I think that she wanted to enjoy giving to everyone she loved. I mean, a full blown Christmas Eve with searching for Santa and his troops to arrive back home with a roomful of presents from Santa himself. Precious memories. My father has carried this on with his love of giving and 'tis the season' attitude. It is these memories with my family, and for my children, that I cherish and not the presents and gifts because these things are forgotten. The holidays of laughing and crying, the food and the fights, the sleeping arrangments with a full house and all the reasons we never get to sleep. I must admit, I adore what my mother and sister find us at Anthropologie, but am truthfully thankful for everyone that I just get to love. And I do love giving to them!!!

Santa came!!!!

Christmas morning began around 8 am and ended at 12 pm. This was a record for us opening presents. It makes sense though when you do the math-- more people, the more time it takes. Landry and Lauren were in the mix this year and what fun we had!

 Landry got her anywhere chair but Santa forgot to leave the cushions! So we creatively took them off of the couch and helped him out. Landry loves the chair that Laney has and I have found her sitting it lately, thus I couldn't wait until her 1st birthday to get her very own! I really like how it turned out and how it will look sitting next to her sister's.

 Landry spent some time pushing around her zebra toy. You'd think she could walk but she loves to sit on her bottom when she realizes she is standing.

The princesses sent Laney her sparkly pink shoes. I really wanted everyone to get my one shot of sister's ring! It's beautiful! I am quite excited to plan this wedding with her! Next to mine, I can't imagine having more fun planning one than my baby sister's. And hand over the reigns!!!! Teasing, sort of.

 ....and the soccer shirt for soccer tots.

 This may have been Laney's favorite gift, her pack of gum. She always take Momma's or Mickey's or Lesley's out of our purses. I got Laney her "very own!" and she started screaming. I did not expect this excited reaction, it was hysterical.

 Bumpaw got an ornament of the Alamo that was handpainted by someone at the Gunther Hotel. My fathers loves SA and getting him something that reflects the history of the city was perfect.

Landon outdid us all though. He found a vintage magazine from when my Dad was in high school. It had his name printed in it and was one of those gifts that are deemed priceless. Good job brother.

My Momma got a stocking from my Dad. It was the most precious, sweet reaction that I was not allowed to take pictures of. The stocking is my favorite part each year. The trinkets and make up my Momma finds are the best. Now I know, she needed one too. I am so happy that my Dad got her one, it is perfect and has her name "Jorja". I just adore my mother, I'm lucky she is the Momma I got! As far as the stocking goes,  I can't wait to help him fill it next year with pefect little presents for her.

 Matthew received the "duck" and the story here I don't quite know exactly. It is this quacking, squawking, singing, duck that is called Sir Duckalot/Sir Quackers or Sir Quackalot or Sir "something"and a rotating gift every year that someone receives. There is an entire document or creed or something that is read. My Aunt Karen gave to my Paw Paw Berg years ago. Somehow it gets passed around year after year. Since Matthew decides this next time, I will probably get it. Hmmm. Whom to give to, sister :).

 Laney got a baby princess set to have at Mickey's house from Santa. Lesley and I had quite fun setting this up. I'm not an engineer nor a visual person. I simply count and add numbers but when you ask me to follow directions to set up a toy for a 3 year old I find myselft stumbling.

 Meanwhile, miss Blue eyes was sleeping in the pack 'n play. She missed two hours worth of opening gifts. Sweet baby girl.

 But as soon as she woke up we started opening gifts with her. She seemed to really enjoy the toys and Christmas morning. How happy she was with the paper and simplicity with all of us being together. The true meaning can quickly be found in the innocent lives of our little ones.

 Laney watching her sister opening her presents.

 I think Santa got the baby doll for Landry because it looked like her and bounces like she does.

 On our way to lunch with the Crowell's on Christmas Day. Laney would not take off those pink sparkly shoes from Ariel and Tinkerbell and Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

 

More posts to come on  Christmas Night, Christmas with the Crowell's, New Year's in a Pasture and just our downtime and the enjoyment during the holidays and time off from working! I love .....
happy holidays!!!!!