"It's everything I always wanted"

This post is LONG overdue but I wanted to go ahead and add it so I am not kicking myself further down the road.  It is mostly just a picture rundown of our Christmas festivities.  

We spent the week before Christmas (my first week of break from school) baking cookies, decorating our gingerbread house and putting together gifts for Will's teachers. We kept the teacher gifts a bit more simple than I had originally planned but I think they were cute.

We joined the bandwagon and got the Elf.  The night our elf showed up Will was dead set on naming him/her (we used them interchangeably) "Kelsy."  His aunt is named Kelsy and the book gives suggestions for cute fun names rather than typical human names. I tried really hard (with no luck) to sway him on other names.  So, Kelsy it was.  Kelsy didn't come up with too many crazy tricks or hiding spots but these were some of Will's favorites.  

 Christmas Eve morning I woke up with the worst case of mastitis I have ever had.  I had chills and felt miserable all day.  I was hoping I could just pump, take Tylenol, and rest to get rid of it (has worked in the past) but this particular case of it was going to need antibiotics.  Well, I waited too late to call the on call doctor at my OB office for them to be able to call me in a script so I was facing having to go to the ER, UGH!  Thank goodness a family member happened to have enough of the particular antibiotic I was going to need (I know this from previous experience with this).  I started it that night and felt much better by Christmas morning.  Unfortunately though, we didn't make it to Mass :(  This made me especially sad since it was TJ's first Christmas.  

 We are so lucky to be able to keep our tradition of spending Christmas Eve at the Ekart's and Christmas Morning at my Mom's.  I was not on my game and didn't take the best pictures this year.  Will had so much fun opening presents this year.  Last year he was so oVeR it by the second get together.  He was glad to help everyone tear into their gifts.  At the Ekart's we go around and each open one gift until everyone is done.  He did so good being patient.  He was also very patient waiting until the end to open his BIG box.  There was a very luxurious bean bag from Pier 1 inside.  It resembles the Pottery Barn Kids version.  Each of the boys got one.  They are SOO comfy!  

 The title of this post comes from Will's first comment when he walked into the living room on Christmas morning.  He was so thrilled to see his gifts: Jeep power wheel, Imaginex ship, Grill, Transformers, Cutie game, Candyland.  TJ shared the Grill with Will, got a push walker, and a swing for our swing set. 

 Christmas at Mom's is always so much fun with the three 3 year olds.  They always play so well together.  

We were so glad Stacy and Josh were able to make it home this year. 

Christmas night we have a tradition of making Japanese food and doing White Elephant with about 25 of us.  I was glad to have my Mom and Mike, Stacy and Josh, and Ryan join us this year.  After the fun of the W.E. was over we played Left, Right, Center, and Clack into the wee hours.  It is sad to think that it is all over. The holidays came and went so fast this year!