Christmas hangover

You know what I mean...that "blah" feeling you are left with in the days following Christmas.  The presents are opened, the cookies are eaten, the tree is bare (sans presents and probably a few needles too!) and you are tired.  This is the first hangover I have had in a long time.  Ha!

We had a wonderful Christmas though.  It was low-key, just the way I like it.  Santa was good to us, but there was one thing on my list I didn't get.  A one-way ticket to independent wealth, perhaps my letter got lost in the mail:(  We are truly blessed though, so no complaints here.

We kicked off the holiday weekend with a tour de Longmont for Christmas lights.  You would think by now I would be more prepared for this excursion, but every year it is the same.  The GPS won't work right, we drive around until we stumble upon some lights, I take one picture and my battery dies, yada, yada, yada.  It was still cool to check out some new homes this year.  I can't imagine all the effort that goes into doing it up like some of these places do!

 Milo was so intrigrued...

 by this!

We had Uncle Jon, Aunt Heather, and Peyton over for Christmas Eve.  A delicious meal and SO much fun watching the kiddos play together.  They had a blast! 

How cute is Peyton in her holiday duds?  Ian was more into the beach bum look this Christmas Eve.  Ha!

 Ian's police helmet was a huge hit!

 I would say the dessert gets a thumbs up from Milo:)

 Ian and Milo got an art easel and art supplies.  Gettin' crafty in 2012!

 Love this little girl and the fact that she walked this book over to me, plopped down on my lap, and snuggled right in.  My heart melted!

 Milo checking Santa's route before he hits the sack. 

 The evening wrapped up and our guests had to say goodbye.  I love being able to spend the holidays with my brother and his family. 

 Milo crashed hard, so it was up to Ian to make sure the cookies and milk were out for Santa.  Plus, the reindeer food was out for Rudolph. 

 Ian made his own chocolate milk for Santa:)

Can you tell he is excited?!

 He thought he might have heard something before heading up stairs.  With his ear plastered to the window he was just waiting to hear the jingling of those sleigh bells.  But I reminded him that Santa would not come if he saw us awake because he cannot reveal his magical surprises!                                                        

 We must have heard him because when Casey and I came upstairs for bed it was clear he had arrived.  How did we miss him?!

We were sure Ian was going to wake us up at 5 AM to open gifts, but we were presently surprised when both boys slept in until 7:30 AM.  Merry Christmas to Mommy & Daddy!  Once Ian was awake though, he could hardly contain himself.  He ran downstairs and shrieked with delight when he saw Santa ate the cookies, drank his milk and that Rudolph even enjoyed his carrot!  The biggest surprise was that Santa brought him exactly what he wanted...a kitchen.  That little boy wants to be a chef just like his Daddy!  Milo was excited too, although he had no idea he was excited.  He was just shrieking because his Big Brother was.  Hilarious! 

We were able to pull both of them away from the kitchen long enough to open their other presents.  I desperately tried to be my organized self writing down what everyone got and from who so we could get our thank you notes in order.  What a joke!  Sometimes I wonder why I even try to be like the person I once was.  I really need to accept my new normal - unorganized, frazzled Mom:)

Milo was all about opening presents, but Ian took the cake for opening the most presents.  I didn't mind!

What - this wagon isn't to hold me, just my stuff?! 

I absolutely LOVE this picture.  The smile on Milo's face - priceless.  A cozy time with Daddy before his nap.  Ian squeezed in some QT with Daddy too. 

 
After naps and quiet time, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park for some sledding.  I was so bummed last year because we never had enough snow to make sledding worthwhile.  We have already had more snow this year than we got all last year.  Amazing!

We did a handful of runs - maybe 5 or so each.  Milo wasn't a huge fan, but he sure was a trooper.  I got quite the work out carrying a baby and a sled, then balancing us both down the hill in an attempt to not eat it.  Ian loved it.  He asked to go alone, but I just wasn't ready to send my baby down that big hill all by himself.  Maybe next year.  I would feel much better if we started with the small sledding hill by our house! We had a lot of fun - not too crowded and a gorgeous day.  It wasn't long before we were all exhausted and needed to head home though. 

Pooped!

The rest of our evening was quiet and we were all eager to catch some zzzzz's.  All in all it was a great Christmas, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy it is over.  I need 364 days to relax and prepare for next year!