We had an amazing Christmas this year. It was so wonderful to be in our own home, with all our decorations, and with both parents employed. It has been so long since we had a Christmas that was essentially stress free. I feel badly for David because he's in PACE this year. I remember what it was like last year to do PACE over the holiday and not really have a break. I'm so glad that this year I'm free from that!
We decided to make our own gingerbread houses again. I used butter instead of shortening in the gingerbread and it made it too soft, which meant it was hard to build a house. Our neighbors gave us a kit, so we made both kinds. Baylie took the homemade one and Jalen the kit. The frosting I made turned out way too hard, basically like fondant.
David told the kids they couldn't eat their houses until Christmas. By Christmas Eve, this is what they looked like. Jalen had even eaten some of Baylie's candy!
By Christmas morning, Jalen's house was history.
For Christmas dinner, it was just our little family, which was so nice.
Our former neighbor, Rose, had given me a roaster oven, so I cooked the turkey in that. I was nervous to try it, but it was great! It cooked it perfectly and kept the house from getting so hot. Plus I could use my oven to cook everything else while the turkey was cooking.
Jalen really wanted to eat with candles, so we did!
There were grean beans, squash and sweet potatoes...
...salt potatoes, rolls and mac 'n cheese.
Yummy dinner!
The kids wanted to eat the legs.
On Christmas Eve, we all got Christmas jammies, even Tashi!
David and Jalen had matching ones - only David's were shorts because I didn't have enough fabric. (I sewed theirs.)
Baylie and I also had matching ones. Ours are from Old Navy.
David read the kids Christmas stories.
Santa was very generous with us. Jalen got a basketball hoop and Baylie got a jungle gym.
Baylie bought Jalen a bottle of candy.
Jalen loved the present Baylie gave him. It was the same thing he got for David! It was a small table top basketball game.
Calligraphy set
Bath stuff from the twins.
Sewing machine.
Superhero accessories.
Planning calendar like mom.
Jalen and I got Irmo sweatshirts.
Christmas morning is torture for OCD people like me.
South Carolina white Christmas (cotton fields).
This was our Christmas card.
