Christmas in St. Louis

Is anyone else tired of posting about Christmas? Oh wait, you're already done? Well, I'm tired of it. But I must go on.

I really love spending the holidays with so much family, but every year I kind of wish we would stay home and have our own Christmas....we actually do have our own Christmas at home before we head to St. Louis. Santa visits us a little early, but it's just not the same, because I know it's not really Christmas. And as Addi gets older, she will start to realize too.

Addi asked for a "Hello Kitty music player" this year....and when I say year I mean she asked for it for 8 months. Her friend Emma has one and when ever she would play at Emma's house the first thing she went for was the mp3 player. Since it is a larger ($) gift it would have to be a birthday or Christmas gift. Unfortunately Addi discovered this right after her birthday, so I kept telling her she would have to wait and ask for it for Christmas. She never forgot, and Santa didn't disappoint. That little girl got quite a haul this Christmas. I started shopping in June and just found one awesome deal after another. It kind of helps when she only asks for 1 thing because then she can get some awesome surprises that I know she will love. With the help of Vendor Sample Sales, the Walmart Associate Store, and Black Friday almost every item was $10 or less. Pots and pans for her kitchen, a vacuum, a furreal pup, a Lalaloopsy tree house with 8 dolls, barbie clothes, a princess cash register and the list goes on.

Eli was looking to have a pretty depressing Christmas, but then a mega blocks sample sale saved the day. And it seems that no one loves that Furreal pup more than Eli. Eli LOVES animals. Real or fake.

 

 

Actual Christmas was an absolute blast. We spent it in St. Louis with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins....you get the picture. No? Well good thing I took some.

Eli's "cheese" face is my favorite. As soon as he sees my phone "cheese!"

I always forget something when I'm buying gifts for my kids...they are going to get a ton of gifts when we go to St. Louis. I could probably cut out half of what I buy and they would still have an amazing Christmas. It's because we have so many people in our family and we decided when everyone started having kids that we would just buy for kids. My kids are blessed with the best aunts and uncles who love to spoil them. They get gifts from each of my siblings, my parents, my grandma, my aunts, uncles, and cousins. Like I said a ton of people.

 

 This rolling tea cart from auntie Jessica is getting a lot of use. Even Eli has a go while Addi's away.

This also means that we give a lot of gifts. That is why I start shopping in June, and look for the best deals. I actually made a lot of the gifts I gave this year. My nieces and cousins got owl rice filled heating pads that I made. I also made my nieces shirts with their birth state outline on them and a little heart in the city they were born. I also scored them Disney princess cash registers for $2.50 at the Walmart Associate store.

My brother got my parents this teeter thing that is supposed to be good for your back. We each enjoyed our turn on it. Even Eli got rocked to sleep on it. So, Christmas was awesome, but I am glad that the busyness of December is over.