December was a busy month for our family and because of the kids extra curricular’s it was hard to fit in some of our past Christmas traditions. I was excited for the Christmas Break to arrive so we could catch up on some of the family time we needed.
The break started with our annual Secret Santa party at the Fisher’s. We drew names a while back and each of the kids were getting excited to do their gift exchange. I am always excited to watch their excitement and indulge in some Chinese Food. My shellfish allergy limits where I can eat Chinese since most of these restaurants are not careful. At our Secret Santa party we usually all bring Chinese to share. We make egg rolls, one of my favorite Chinese foods. Overall it was a fun night of food, gift exchange and games with great company. It was a great way to start the break.
The next day we were invited for supper out with the Fisher family as a thank you for helping them with the kids throughout the year. Our family picked Naked Crepe since it is one of our favorite restaurants in the area. After supper we met up with a large group of our church family to do some carolling. It was a fun evening.
Christmas Eve was the next day and it was our supper with Sandy’s family. We had a turkey dinner at my sister in laws where we enjoyed some yummy food, some games and we all headed to the Christmas Eve church service together. We drove out to look at some Christmas lights and then came home so the kids could open their Christmas Eve boxes and exchange gifts between each other.
Christmas Day my brother and my parents came to watch the kids open their gifts as they do each year. It was fun to surprise the kids with our Toronto March Break trip. Love these memory making gifts each year. At lunch we had the Merrill family and Sandy’s Mom come over for enchiladas which has been our lunch tradition for quite a number of years. The kids spent time with their cousins and then that evening my brother & sister in law as well as my parents came for supper. We also celebrated Mom’s birthday.
Boxing Day was a nice day to put away gifts and get the house organized again. Mid afternoon the Fisher and Merrill families came over for games and supper. We kept it simple and made waffles with all the fixings. It was a fun evening. We haven’t been able to get together that close to Christmas in the past, so this was a really nice change this year.
We went back to work on the 27th for one day, but once our shift was done we headed to the city for a hotel night with the Fisher family. We started this a number of years ago and the kids always look forward to it. They get to do a little shopping with Christmas money, but also get to spend some time swimming and playing games with their friends and family. We brought our nieces since it didn’t work out with my sister in laws schedule this year to come. It was a much needed getaway for me as it always refuels me. 🙂
Each year we don’t exchange gifts with the Merrill family, but instead do something together with them. In the past we have gone to places like Glow in the Dark Mini Putt, out for meals, to the movies, etc. This year the kids all decided it would be the Clayground, so we head there tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing what each of the kids create.
The break ends with a couple of great things coming up, a local Automatticians Christmas Holiday Supper, our annual New Years Eve party with friends at our house (this year it is a sleepover!) and the girls are having another one of their games & snacks afternoons with their friends before school starts. I wish the break was longer, but I cannot be more thankful for our time together. We have had some good down time, watching movies & basketball together as well as some outings to mix up the fun. Thankful we still have a few days left to enjoy. 🙂
I Dream of Summer 
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