{Christmas Bucketlist 2019 //Update}

Grace upon grace upon grace upon grace! That's what I gently told myself throughout the Christmas season! There were so many circumstances beyond our control that kept us from many family traditions. If you know me, then you know traditions are my thing. So, when we have to skip one a little piece of my heart would break off. And that's when I'd have to remember to offer myself some grace! We still did a ton and even did some new things. And? We made so many beautiful memories throughout the season. Here's a look at all that we accomplished from our list.

{Christmas Day // 2019}

I was on a roll getting out all of the Christmas posts, but then the flu hit our household. Mason was diagnosed with Flu Type A. It's been both a physically and mentally and emotionally exhausting week! I hate to see my boy sick. Anyhow, backing up to Christmas Day. It was such a beautiful day!

{Christmas Eve // 2019}

Mason and I had our Christmas tree campout the night before, so we woke up next to the glow of the Christmas tree. That was such a wonderful way to wake-up on Christmas Eve. I checked my work emails and didn't have much to do, so we continued watching Home Alone 2 Lost in New York from our air mattress. We lazed around the house in our Christmas pajamas for the rest of the day watching Christmas movies. Work was extremely quiet, which was nice. I got to spend some quality time with my boy. Nate worked overtime and got off around 2:00.

{Christmas Eve Eve // Reindeer food // cookies for Santa // Christmas Tree campout}

Mason's last day of school was 12/20 which meant that I got to have my boy home with me on the days leading up to Christmas. I still worked, but I am so blessed to work from home full time. Work was extremely slow, as you can imagine, so we hung out in Christmas pajamas and did all things festive.

{Christmas dress-up week at school}

I've mentioned before that Mason wears uniforms to school daily so any time he gets a dress-up day it's more than welcomed! Give us a whole week of festive-themed dress-up days and we are HERE for it! Especially the last week before break!

{Mason got to play Max at the Grinch's Lair}

On December 10th the owner of the Grinch's Lair messaged me and asked if Mason would like to play the part of Max that upcoming Saturday! I already knew what Mason's answer would be, but I needed to talk it over with Nathan. I already had plans with my family for our annual baking party so that meant Nate would be flying solo with Mason. It's an almost two-hour drive there and back. I knew Nate wouldn't mind but wanted to discuss it with him first. Of course, he was on board and excited for Mason! So we asked Mason and he couldn't say yes quick enough! He was so happy!!

{Other festive stuff // lights at Deerfield, Campo Verde, family baking party, board and brush}

There is something about the Christmas season that just makes you want to pack in all things festive! And we did just that. While we didn't do near as much as we normally do this year, we still did so much. Our season kicked off with a camping trip to the Polar Express and the Grinch's Lair, then we joined our local Jeep club for the third year in the Christmas lighted parade, next we broke tradition a bit and bought a fake tree & decked our halls, we took Mason to breakfast with Santa, and yesterday I shared about our trip to the Gaylord Texan and Ice Exhibit. And I still have so much to share! After our Gaylord Texan and Ice adventure we were in the mood to keep the Christmas festiveness going on, so we drove to Plano to see the lights at Deerfield.

{Gaylord Texan / Ice Exhibit 2019}

Happy New Year! I know that Christmas feels like forever ago at this point, but I have so much to share about the season. I took an unintentional blog break to be intentional with the ones I love so dearly. 2019 was definitely a year of change {more on this later} for us, but through that, I learned to give myself some grace. While traditions are nice and good for my soul, it's okay to skip a year if needed. It's okay to break traditions for the sake of family first, and it's okay to make new traditions. Speaking of new, we did something new this season...we visited the Gaylord Texan and did the Ice exhibit. The last time we have done this was when I was about 4 months pregnant with Mason. Nathan and I wanted to have a special family night with Mason and thankfully he thought of the ICE exhibit! I'm so glad he did because we had the most incredible time.

{Happy Howl-idays // 2019}

You know I couldn't let this season pass without taking Christmas photos of my pups! Lexi is always pretty cooperative as she lives to please, but Diesel is so stubborn in his old age. ha! He will not look at the camera unless there is a treat directly in front of it. Hey, whatever works! Here are our 2019 Christmas pictures of Lexi and Diesel!

{Breakfast with Santa // 2019}

Saturday, December 7th was our annual breakfast with Santa at our local high school! Normally we hear about this event weeks before it happens, but this year we found out the Thursday before. Not sure what happened there! The event was from 8-11:00am on Saturday and we got there just before 10:00am.

{I "deerly" love Christmas // Christmas craft}

One day after school Mason and I decided to work on a craft I had bought from Hobby Lobby! I love hanging out with my boy and working on Christmas crafts. The pups decided to join us as well.

{Deckin' the Halls and Trimmin' the Tree // 2019}

Our traditions were mixed up something fierce this year! Normally we go to the Christmas tree farm and get a real tree there, but that didn't happen this year. It was the day after Thanksgiving (the day we normally go to the farm) and it was rainy with a chance of it being that way all weekend. I didn't want to have to wait until the 2nd weekend in December to get a Christmas tree! And, we wanted a very specific tree this year. We have been swooning over flocked trees for quite some time. The Christmas tree farm does offer some flocked ones, but again, rain. So I threw out the idea to Nate and Mase about getting a fake flocked tree and they both liked the idea of that. So, I suited up and ran to town on black Friday to find a Christmas tree...

{Waxahachie Christmas Parade // 2019}

I'm just a bit behind on this blog! We have been doing ALL the Christmas and having a blast this season! On December 2nd we joined our local Jeep club in the lighted Christmas parade. This was our 3rd year to join and it just gets better with each year. We had a complete blast!

{ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS / 2019}

I've already shared about our camping in Palestine {here} and visiting the Grinch's Lair {here} so the only thing left to share about this trip is the Polar Express! This was the 5th time to ride the Polar Express in Palestine, TX {for most of our group, at least} and it never disappoints. It's the most magical and amazing evening and I can't get enough of it.

{The Grinch's Lair // Palestine 2019}

We all know that a trip to Palestine is not complete without a trip to the Grinch's Lair! I think this was our 4th visit to the lair, maybe the 5th. Whatever the number might be, it never ever disappoints. Mason looks forward to visiting his favorite Grinch each time we are in the area. It's so fun and festive and the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

{Camping in Palestine, TX // annual Polar Express & Grinch weekend}

This past weekend was our 5th annual trip to Palestine for all things festive and magical! It's literally one of my favorite weekends of the year. Every time I try to explain this weekend the only word I can come up with is magical, and it truly is. From camping in a magical forest to visiting the Grinch's Lair, and then capping it off with a trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express, it really is a feel-good-get-in-the-spirit time! I'm forever grateful for this weekend with my people and for all of the special memories we have made in Palestine, TX.

{Christmas bucketlist // 2019}

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! Making this list made my heart so giddy and oh so happy. I'm sharing today because this weekend kicks off our Christmas season with our annual Polar Express weekend! I love this weekend more than I could ever begin to express. It's so magical and just pulls at my mama Christmas lovin' heartstrings so fiercely! Anyhow, I know it's before Thanksgiving, but we have to schedule this weekend months in advance and this is what seems to work for everyone. So from here on out it's all things Christmas! You've been warned. Here is our 2019 Christmas bucketlist.

{Deckin' the halls // a home tour before the tree}

If you've been around this blog for any amount of time you know that we do the whole Christmas tree farm experience and get a real tree each year. It's a tradition and I am a sucker for a good tradition. Plus, I love to smell a fresh tree every time I walk into the house. And I love how unique each real tree is. I could go on and on. But I won't. You're welcome! ha. Anyhow, we do not get our tree until after Thanksgiving as that's when tree farms typically open for the Christmas season. We just couldn't wait that long to decorate this year! So, we started deckin' our halls a couple of weeks ago. Christmas decor just makes for such a cozy home. I have loved spending the evenings with my people by the glow of twinkle lights!! Anyhow, here's a very rough draft of our "deckin' the halls". I know once we get our tree I will rearrange and add some things.

{DIY Christmas Stocking Name Tags}

I recently met my friend Keri at Hobby Lobby to exchange a few items we are putting together for a giveaway {follow us here for more on that} and to do a little shopping. She mentioned she was looking for some wooden tags to make some DIY Christmas stocking name tags and I knew I had to copy her!! I have been swooning over Julie's name tags for quite some time and have been wanting to make some! So glad Keri reminded me! Is it just me or does anyone else draw a complete blank about all the projects they want to complete once they are actually at Hobby Lobby? Or maybe I get distracted because there is so much to look at! Anyhow, here are my DIY Christmas Stocking Name Tags...