Heck Of A Christmas Eve - 2021

Christmas tree cheese and meat platter made by my niece

 

candy sleighs, also made by my niece

Christmas Eve was celebrated with family at my niece's house.  It was probably one of my favorites because of all the quality time spent together.  Most everyone stayed for several hours.

James and Jason with the folded flag

We first stuffed ourselves with food...lots of food.  Then we opened gifts.  Every year, at Thanksgiving, we draw names and then get a gift for that person for Christmas.  That way, one person buys a gift for another with a spending average of $25.

my brother unwrapping the Saran ball

I drew my great-nephew's name and gifted him with several goofy gifts, including a toilet brush, Chili Fritos, a bulldog bobblehead ornament, and a dung excavation kit.

The weather was surprisingly decent so we spent a lot of time outdoors as well.  The kids played the Saran Wrap game, and the adults had one as well.  Towards the end, several of us got together and played Left Right Center with lottery cards.

At one point, Jason and James properly folded an American flag that was presented during my step-father's funeral in 1982.  My brother's wife then put the flag in a shadow box and gifted it to him on Christmas day.

My nephew, sister, and brother-in-law

#Twinsies

Brandon was the latest recipient to wear the Santa outfit.  Two others of the family have worn it before him.  It's become a tradition for one of the youngest to wear this outfit for Christmas Eve.

The hostess with her pup, Buster.  I don't think he was too keen on wearing a reindeer sweater.

On the day of actual Christmas, I got up early and worked at 9-1-1.  It's the one day a year we get double pay, so I wasn't gonna let that go.  Then me and Jason went to a friend's house to play Left Right Center and spent the night there.

a cheese and pinwheel tray I brought to the gathering

Relaxing Baby with Baby Magic - Giveaway

 When it comes to buying gifts for family members and friends with little ones, grab something that parents will get some real use out of! Baby Magic’s Calming Baby Bath and Lotion are the gifts that keep on giving. These products are formulated with soothing Lavender and Chamomile, which are shown to effectively improve sleep quality! The Calming Line features a light and fresh Lavender scent. This signature fragrance is refreshing without being overpowering. Baby Magic’s Calming Baby Bath and Calming Baby Lotion are free of parabens, phthalates, dyes and mineral oils. Use this relaxing product duo for bath time with baby and some chill time after the holiday craziness! 

Calming Baby Bath

Baby Magic Calming Baby Bath | 16.5oz | Lavender & Chamomile | Tear-Free, Free of Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates and Dyes

GENTLE FORMULA:  Sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dye-free & paraben-free.  

HYPOALLERGENIC:  Dermatologist tested and allergy tested for the sensitive skin of infants, from newborns to toddlers.

LAVENDER & CHAMOMILE: Known for its aromatic and therapeutic properties to calm the senses.

ALOE: Helps skin feel hydrated with enriched moisturizers to replenish skin’s moisture barrier and soothe dry skin.

Calming Baby Lotion

Baby Magic Calming Baby Lotion, 16.5oz, Lavender & Chamomile, Free of Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates and Dyes:

GENTLE FORMULA: Sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dye-free & paraben-free

HYPOALLERGENIC: Dermatologist tested and allergy tested for the sensitive skin of infants, from newborns to toddlers

LAVENDER & CHAMOMILE: Known for its aromatic and therapeutic properties to calm the senses

ALOE: Helps skin feel hydrated with enriched moisturizers to replenish skin's moisture barrier and soothe dry skin

Win It!

One person will win Baby Magic Calming Baby Lotion and Calming Baby Bath.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received no compensation for this post.  This post is in partnership with PR firm.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas with the Kids - 2021

 

Notice how Juliann and Emma are flipping me off?!  Looked through the pics the next day and realized it wasn't the only one.  They were following a Tik-Tok trend (aye, aye, aye!)

December 23rd I hosted a Christmas gathering in my home for the kids and grandkids.  Adam couldn't attend because he was sick and Shelby wouldn't come because she's mad at me for the second Christmas in a row, but the other four olders made it.  So did the two grandsons, Waylon and Henry.  Jason's mom also showed up, as well as Waylon's mom, Nicole.

Allyson and Henry

Juliann and Emma (one of the few where their middle fingers weren't up)

Because the kids are older, my original plan was to only get them a couple of gifts.  THEN I joined a few "Amazon sales" sites on Facebook and went buck wild.  I was like Oprah:  "You get ten gifts.  You get ten gifts.  Everyone gets ten gifts!"

Logan holding his nephew, Waylon

We celebrated the evening with a baked potato bar, opening of gifts, and lots of games.  We played Left Right Center, Pass Present to Left or Right, and two Saran Wrap Ball games.  Seems the kids like playing the games for gifts a lot more than just unwrapping presents.

Sabrina and Logan....the next to be parents

My kids may be older but I absolutely enjoy the quality time.  And, spoiling the grandkids is so much fun!

Drive-Thru at the Festival of Lights

For several years, our town was host to the Avenue of Lights, an animated light display over 1.5 miles long.  Due to budget cuts, it was put on hiatus for a few years.  We were lucky enough to have it come back last year, renamed as the Festival of Lights.

obligatory selfie

The night after Thanksgiving I hopped in a car with one of my sons, a friend, and my niece to check out the displays.  It didn't disappoint!

Admission to Festival of Lights is $15 a carload and it takes little over half an hour to drive through the entire park.

Adam's entry/exit driving skills were a little off!

We watched in awe at the animations, laughed till we cried, and even created a little confusion when we couldn't find the exit and Adam weaved his way around other cars to get us out.  Good times!

Did you check out any Christmas lights this year?

Blessed By These Babies

This last year has blessed us with babies...and more on the way.  

Our first grandson, Henry, will be 1-year old in January.

Henry praising the Lord that he made Santa's nice list!

Our second grandson, Waylon, is almost 3 months old.

Waylon posing in plaid

My nephew, Brandon, just turned 1-year old in November.  I'm lucky enough to get to babysit him every Wednesday evening.

Brandon in his 1st birthday outfit.

After 17 years, I no longer work full-time as a 9-1-1 Dispatcher.  I went down to part-time (still raking in a lot of hours) and babysit for my supervisor's little one, Jonathan.  He is 3-months old.

Jonathan wearing a onesie made for his older brother almost 17 years ago.

(Yep, you read that right. Almost 17 year age difference between Jonathan and his older brother.  It's like starting all over again!)

Logan holding his first baby's ultrasound pics

AND (drum roll please) Logan is going to be a first-time daddy.   He and his lady are due in early July.  Yay, another grandbaby on the way!

PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien! - DVD Giveaway

Even aliens from outer space sometimes need to “Yelp for help;” good thing the PAW Patrol is ready for the rescue in the brand-new DVD release, PAW Patrol: Pups Save Alien! Available now, this DVD features eight out-of-this-world adventures from the hit preschool series PAW Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon. The PAW Patrol is ready for blast-off as they rescue a stranded extra-terrestrial, repair broken spaceships, meet alien doubles, and more!

 PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien is available as of December 7, 2021, rom Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment.

PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien episodes:

Pups Save the Space Alien

Pups Save a Space Toy

Pups Save Floating Friends

Pups Save a Satellite

Pups Save a Space Rock

Pups Save an Antarctic Martian

Pups Save a Rubble-Double

Pups Save a Glow-in-the-Dark Party

PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien synopsis:

Join the PAW Patrol on some out-of-this-world adventures! An alien spaceship crash lands at farmer Yumi’s! Now it’s up to the PAW Patrol to help out the stranded little extra-terrestrial by fixing his ship and getting him back to his home planet! Then Ryder and the pups need to repair an aliens’ spaceship to get everyone back to earth!

 PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien fast facts:

Street Date: December 7, 2021

Running Time: 1 hr 36 min

Win It!

One person will win PAW Patrol: Pups Save the Alien! on DVD.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received no compensation for this post.  This post is in partnership with PR firm.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check It Out: Savings.com #GilletteGiftsForHim Giveaway

 Savings.com is giving away five $50 gift cards to spend at Gillette!

Giveaway ends on Thursday, December 16th at 11:59 PM PT.  Five (5) winners will receive a $50 gift card to spend at Gillette.

While you're waiting to see if you've won, shop Gillette and receive $3 off your first order with code SHAVEOFF3.

----------------------------------

This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.