December to Remember - Week 4 (Part 2 - Xmas Day)

Christmas morning started for Blakely around 7:15, but not till almost 8 for Delainey! Delainey woke and said Mom it's Christmas morning and ran out to see all the gifts. She opened her stocking and moved right over to Blakely's toy. She definitely helped her "open" most of her presents. Her "big" present from Santa was a bike. Each year Delainey has to do a scavenger hunt to find her last big gift. She did awesome this year by solving the riddles. The end of it led her out to the garage, where her new bike was sitting. She put her helmet on and hopped right on and off she went. She is a maniac on that bike. I personally think we should take off the training wheels and teach her, but Dave says give her a few weeks with them first. After playing with our toys, we had the usual egg casserole and monkey bread for breakfast. Georgie & Ivy came to eat and play for a little while and then it was off to naps. Dave & D watched a movie and I cleaned the house and showered to get ready to go to Gammoe's. 

We headed to Gammoe & Dodaddy's around 1. We opened presents and played over there and then had dinner around 5. Will's parents and brother and wife were there so we had a full 12 people for dinner. After dinner, we played some heads up and called it a night around 8. We had a fantastic day, but boy were we exhausted. 

The next morning, Delainey woke up and played with EVERY single toy she got. She must of have sat in her room for a good 3-4 hours playing :) I'd say it was a good Christmas. Me, in all my OCD glory, took down the Christmas decorations, and I mean even the lights on the house. HAHA Dave was called into surgery and I figured what better time then over the weekend while we didn't have much going on. We hung at the house, played with neighbors, and headed to bed early.

Yesterday, we went to church and lunch and then to the pool for a little while since it was 85 degrees. Got to keep Delainey swimming so she doesn't forget. We headed to Gammoe's for an early birthday dinner since her birthday is on Tuesday.
We have a busy week ahead of us again. Blakely has her 9 month check up and Thursday is New Years Eve and Will is having  a big party for  Emily's birthday. Then dinner at Marcia's on Friday with the family for Emily's Birthday. This time is crazy!! I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

December to Remember - Week 4 (Part 1)

We had a crazy busy week that was so much fun! The fun started on Monday when Delainey and I went to an Irish Christmas performance at the Times Union theater with Gammoe & Dodaddy. Think river dance with a little bit of singing. Delainey loved it and was standing in the aisle jumping up and down trying to imitate them lol. 

It was my month to host supper club, so Tuesday I had a White Christmas White elephant themed party. I made a shrimp pasta, we did a white elephant gift exchange, and played an intense round of heads up. I am so thankful for my friendships with these ladies and for our monthly girls night. I look forward to it every month! 

Wednesday we finished some last minute shopping, went to the grocery store, and stayed up late wrapping presents since Xmas eve was going to be a busy night. 

Thursday morning (Christmas Eve), I had Alicia drop off Collins to start a new tradition for the girls of making Christmas cookies. They rolled the dough, used the cookie cutters, and decorated them all by themselves. They had such a good time. Of course while the cookies were baking they had to do some princess dress up and other games. 

We headed to Christmas Eve church at 4 pm. Unfortunately David was called into a surgery (It was his holiday to be on call), but I preferred that he miss church and not the girl's opening presents on Christmas morning. Thank the Lord Grammy & Pops were there to help me corral the girls during church. They actually did really well. Blakely was singing and making some noises, but as long as we  kept feeding her puffs she was good to go. 

 After church, we went to dinner at Carabbas and Dave was able to meet us there. We made one last stop by Grammy's house for dessert and to open a few more presents and then called it a night so Santa could come bring presents. We sprinkled reindeer food in the front yard, set out cookies and milk for Santa, and a carrot of course for Rudolph, and say bye to Dash since he was going to be staying in the North Pole.

I'll be back with another post about our Christmas Day!

Happy Holidays from the McLaughlins!

Merry Christmas &  Happy New Year to all of you from the McLaughlins! We are truly blessed and thank God everyday for this fantastic journey called life we are living! I hope all of you are as happy & lucky as we are this holiday season! XOXO! 

Here are some other pictures from our photo session!! 

December to Remember - Week 3 (Part 2)

This past Saturday, we celebrated Christmas with the whole family before Tony, Brandi & the boys left on Sunday. We grilled out prime rib, exchanged presents and had dessert. It was definitely more chaotic this year with 4 kids running around and ripping open presents, but it was a good time. Each gift that was opened had to be played with right then before opening anything else. Someone would get a gift and the other 3 kids would run over to play with it too.

After Saturday, I think I may change how we do Christmas morning at our house. I usually wrap all the gifts from both Santa and from us. Then it takes us forever putting the toys together and opening the boxes they came in. I still want to wrap most things, but this year I am going to open the boxes, put the toys together and then wrap them so the kids can play with them immediately. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. 

Sunday, we headed to church and then out to the Town Center for lunch & some shopping. I loved the girls dresses they wore to church that morning. Delainey is so big holding her baby sis!

That evening we headed over the the Avondale area of Jacksonville for their annual Luminaria lighting. All the houses put luminaries out, have parties in their front yards, people drive around throwing marshmallows, and do hayrides. Emily's boyfriend Will does a hayride every year so we got to do that versus walking around like we usually do. It was so much fun! Delainey had an especially good time because her "new boyfriend" (according to Delainey) Alejandro was there. I don't know when she became boy crazy, but it's definitely on her mind these days. Her boyfriend changes every week.

 Look at Delainey's kissing face towards Alejandro. It's gonna be a rough few years when she is 12-18 years old!

Week 3 was great! Week 4 has already been busy with a Irish Christmas concert and supper club and soon to be Christmas Eve and Christmas! I'll be back at the end of this week with our Week 4 Update. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!