Wow, y’all. I took a long break. And I think it was a needed break. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed (I’m still enjoying) spending quiet, uninterrupted time with my family. It was quiet and sweet and I’m so glad we had all this time together.
I’d like to just close the books on the blog for 2011, but before it becomes a distant memory, I wanted to blog about our Christmas so I can have the memories here on my blog.
My parents arrived in town on December 23. It was such a relief to have them there. With two sick boys (and TC and I both being sick, too), I needed them! My house was all clean and ready. I had decorated as much as I could decorate and I was ready for my boys to have their grandparents. We had a good, relaxing day. My mom and I took care of all the grocery shopping because I was hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In the morning on Christmas Eve, we went to TC’s parents’ house to open presents. They were going to be at our house for dinner on Christmas Eve after church, but we like each set of grandparents to get some private time with the kids. Because his parents live in town, it works out really nicely.
So we went to there house to exchange gifts with them and TC’s grandmother. Both boys got some really great stuff. They have such generous grandparents. They both got a train car for their train sets, some books, puzzles and Hudson got this really great Power Wheels Jeep!
He got to go outside and learn to drive it around. I think RC and Daddy got the biggest workout as they chased Hudson (at 2 mph) and taught him how to steer the Jeep. We told him to put his shoe on the pedal to make it go. So he’d say, “1-2-3- SHOE!”
Hayes was content to sit and watch. The Jeep is a two-seater, so the boys will share it as soon as Hayes is old enough to ride along!
When we left their house, we got dressed to go to the Christmas Eve service at church. We had communion and sang beautiful songs. We all got to be there as a family. My parents, TC’s parents, TC’s grandmother and our little family. We were just missing my brother. Holidays just aren’t the same without him, but we know he is having the time of his life in Vail.
After church, we all came to our house and ate gumbo! We had the table all set and the gumbo was so good! 
We put some greenery in our little mint julep cups and voila… centerpiece!
Sweet little Hayes loved having his grandparents around.
Everyone went home and went to bed and TC and I got to play Santa! We built things and earned honorary engineering degrees in the process. It was so much fun!
We have started a new tradition where TC and I exchange our presents to each other at midnight after Santa has left the house. This way we can exchange our gifts to each other privately and we can enjoy it more. This is what Santa brought to TC. It’s the neatest piece of original art made out of metal. It is the South Carolina state house and the lights to Williams Brice Stadium. Those are both probably TC’s favorite places in the world. He has already displayed this at his office.
When the boys woke up on Christmas morning, we popped the casserole in the oven and got to watch them see what Santa brought.
Hudson got an art easel, a fire station (from KK and Poppie), books, puzzles, Lincoln Logs, a Melissa and Doug magnetic habit set and a new Presidents of the United States place mat. Hayes got a fun little toy called the Dino Poppity Pop, a hilarious laughing monkey toy and some alphabet blocks.
We took our time opening presents, eating breakfast and taking naps that morning. Hudson was a little bit grump that morning. He loved all of his gifts, but was also a bit overwhelmed. Then TC and I got dressed to go to church at 10:30. It’s such a rare thing for Christmas to fall on a Sunday, but it was so wonderful to go to God’s house on Christmas Day to celebrate the gift that He gave us so long ago.
After church, naps and a quiet, relaxing day, everyone got back together for Christmas dinner. We had a big meal and it was absolutely delicious. My mom is such a great cook and I’m so thankful she was there to help make it a great Christmas.
After dinner, we cleared the table and got ready for Jesus’s birthday. All day on Christmas day, Hudson was walking around saying, “Merry Christmas! It’s a birthday party!”
And he was right. I’m so thankful that he already knows a little bit about why we celebrate and that he knew it was the day we celebrate Jesus’s birth.
When it was time to cut the cake, he sang happy birthday to Jesus and blew out the candle. It was very sweet. And that cake was delicious!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with love, family and good cheer!
Thank you for bearing with me as I rang through the full Christmas weekend with you all!
love this post! my sister and i had a power wheels jeep when we were younger and we loved it! glad you had such a good time with your family!
where are your polka dot PJ’s from?
Great Memories and pictures. But Hudson’s smile on the 2nd picture is priceless.
Happy 2012!
Fabiola
I love the birthday cake for Jesus. What a great idea! Enjoy your time with your family!
So worth the wait!! I love when you have picture overload, they are my favs!!
Loved Hudson’s excited face in that jeep pic!!
Reminds me of Christmas with the whole family. I miss those days!!
Love you Erin
I loved hearing all about your Christmas spent with your family. Glad your sickness didn’t take you down too much. Happy New Year!
“1,2,3 SHOE!”
That’s the best Hudsonism yet!
What a perfect Christmas, even through the sickness. Your parents are truly a godsend. I looooove the Happy Birthday Jesus cake. You did such a beautiful job showing the boys what Christmas is truly about! Enjoy the rest of 2011 and I am excited to read about what 2012 brings you! xo
Love this post…..what I’m really wondering….?????…would love a post on how you decorate your Christmas tree……I try to do the ornaments and the ribbon stuff…but it never looks quite right…or full or I’m not sure….but your first picture looks just how I would like mine to be…..any chance you can help me out on how you did this?….enjoy reading you so much….have a great New Year’s Eve!!!!
Okay, first of all…can I have Hayes? That pic of him with his thumb in his mouth…MELT MY HEART.
I’m so glad you guys had a good Christmas and I hope you’re all back to feeling well. I think this is one of the most relaxing Christmases that I can remember in quite some time. We enjoyed every single minute.
I love that Hudson says, “1-2-3…shoe!” Love how their little minds work. LOL
Your Christmas card was just beautiful. Classic. Loved it.
Happy New Year, friend!
Hudson’s face in his new big wheels is perfect! I love how he says, “1-2-3…shoe!” Too cute!
It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas with your family!
We also exchanged gifts after “Santa” left on Christmas Eve! This was the first year for us and I really liked doing it that way. It looks like you got in some really good family time this Christmas. I loved your family’s Christmas card…y’all look so happy. 🙂
Where did you find the gift for TC? I’d love one!
Sounds lovely, Happy New Year to you all!
I love Hudson’s long hair! It looks so cute on him.
Aww! Looks like you had a fantastic Christmas! Have a safe and happy new year!
Loved all the pics!! Your table decor was beautiful 🙂 Glad you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!!
What a fun holiday! We exchange gifts after Santa too, and I love that time with just us. Those boys are just too cute!
Sounds like the perfect Christmas celebration!
Happy New Year!
I enjoy your bog, but wish you’d share where you find things. I’d love to know about your table decor – the sheep and angel candle holder. Thanks!
Just love the photos from your holidays together! Merry xmas and happy new year!
Happy New Erin! I’m glad to see that you all had a wonderful Christmas. The boys are precious :o). I’ve been trying for a few days now (busy busy holiday activities in my household) to thank you for sharing your Christmas breakfast casserole recipe. I made it for my famiyl and it was a BIG hit…Woo Hoo!
* Now I must admit I forgot the half n half…lol
Looks like an amazing Christmas. When I was home I asked my mom if she wanted me to put the gifts going to our cabin somewhere and she said “In the Jeep.” Me: What Jeep? She: “Your power wheels Jeep in the garage.” I cannot believe she still has that! Haha. I’m sure Hudson is in love with his.
WONDERFUL! Thank you for sharing the precious-ness of your Christmas with your complete family and your precious baby boys! I loved the pics of Hayes in front of the tree, w/ his grandpa etc..and of course the ones with Hudson! he is the cutest little boy, Erin! We had an awesome Christmas at my daughter’s house with her 6 kiddos ( my sweet grands!) and all my boys too..( we thought my youngest son wasn’t going to be able to see us at all because he had to work BOTH jobs on Christmas..ugh!) but he DID come to see us for about 45 minutes and I was so glad to see him! We ate dinner Christmas eve with my daughter, son in love, & the 6 grandkids at Denny’s after they had spent the day at Legoland ( their babysitter works there & gave them her free passes that were left over & had to be used by Dec. 25th!)..what a blessing! and then just my sweet hubby & I rode around to look at Christmas lights 🙂 It was so wonderful. I know it gets old that I mention my cancer..but we were ALL so thankful that we could celebrate our Lord’s birth and add the celebration of the cancer being in remission, too..which is because of our Lord Who is the Great Physician! God is so good! Glad ya’ll are feeling better! you are such a blessing! love, Ms Lynn
Erin, I’m just catching up on blogs…..I’ve been out of the loop with blogs and Twitter, but I did see a tweet that made me think someone had made a comment about your hair. Anyway, I wanted to comment that I *love* it!
Looks like a wonderful christmas and I love the happy birthday jesus cake.