The Donoghue Family: Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas this year, and were able to see a lot of our families. We had an event scheduled every day from Wednesday all through Sunday… so I am beyond tired and ready to get back to normal!

Christmas 2015 - Maggie (3), Evie (8 months)

Wednesday we went curling with the Blair family while the girls were in daycare. We got to have lunch beforehand and adult beverages afterward without the distraction of kids – it was a jolly good time!

Serious athletes

Perfect form

Sweeping... do the chores ever end?!

On Christmas Eve we kept up the tradition of going to Frankenmuth to see Santa and shop at Bronners. Maggie was really excited to talk to Santa this year, and told him she wanted a purple doll and a unicorn. Santa was awesome this year – he took the time to really talk with Maggie, and I think she felt very special. I could tell that she was in awe because while they were conversing, she would not move an inch of her body, sitting like a statue with her hands in a weird position. It was really cute.

Princess Maggie

Our little family

Grandma with her grandbabies

Hanging with Uncle Justin

Evie was a little less excited about Santa... similar to Maggie when she turned 1:

Why have you abandoned me?!

Don't go!!! (Maggie 2013)

Brotherly support

The Donoghue family, my parents, Jody’s family and Zach and Katy all got together for lunch at Bavarian Inn afterward. Maggie was a handful by that point, and getting through lunch was a bit challenging. We were all ready for a nap afterward!

Cuddles with Aunt Jody and Uncle Ed

Her favorite sleep buddy

Attempting to distract her with toys

Love this little one

After nap time, we went to 6pm mass… Maggie had to go to the potty 6 times. It was pretty frustrating... Maggie kept asking where baby Jesus was, and I couldn't get her to understand that he was actually born a really long time ago. She received a little donkey from Santa at Bronner's, and without any prompting from us, said that she wanted to wrap up the donkey to give to baby Jesus for his birthday. Heart in a puddle...

Maggie was frantically looking for the real baby
Jesus, so Fr. Gerry let her hold Jesus from the
nativity. She gave him lots of little kisses.

Getting everything ready for Santa

We spent Christmas morning at our house. Maggie was so excited to see that Santa ate all his cookies and chocolate milk, and that Rudolph “and his friends” ate all the carrots. She was very sweet about every gift, just genuinely excited. I just love this age, she brings us so much joy. Evie was also adorable, though she obviously didn’t understand what was going on.

Christmas morning!

Present time

Every year, Jamie and I make each other an ornament from one of the shows we watched. This year we both picked the same show - Game of Thrones.

Jamie's ornament - Mr. Jon Snow - yummy!

Toothpicks, hot glue and spray paint = the not-so-iron throne

We spent the afternoon at the Donoghue's where the girls got some fun new toys and a bunch of clothes! The little kids were so much fun to watch. My sweet nephew Will is one of the most empathetic kids I’ve ever seen. Whenever anyone raises their voice or seems upset, he will give them a hug to make them feel better. It’s so adorable.

Presents!

Playing together

The following day we went to my parents’ house to celebrate with the immediate family. The kids had a great time as usual, and it was wonderful to see everyone.

Horsey rides

Snake rides?

The kids had fun playing "Chubby Bunny," a game where you see how many marshmallows you can fit in your mouth and still say the name of the game. Maggie just kept eating every marshmallow, but Luke got the concept and cracked us up!

Claire loves to color, and so that's how
I bond with this sweetie

Pops is able to put anyone to sleep!

Ladies of the couch

Alex and Gilly trying to rock Evie's hair-do

Happy baby with Grammer's toys

Baby Sarah still has more hair than most of the guys!

Party-down!

Jamie had the idea to make a corn-hole game as a gift for my parents, and it turned out really cute! I sewed up the bean bags... so they are a little lopsided!

Corn hole!

Also a good photo op!

Maggie frog

Saving Luke from the black hole

Ain't no party like an Evie party!

Sunday we went to Aunt Jane’s for lunch and Aunt Marleen’s for dinner. It was a busy day, but we had a good time and Maggie was in heaven with all the kids at each party.

Hanging with the big kids

Coloring with Emma

Pizza - a new favorite for Maggie

Four generations!

A bunch of Grandma's great grandchildren

Ready to be done with Christmas parties

It was a really busy week of traveling all over the place with the girls, and I think we are all exhausted. I actually looked forward to work this morning just to have some normalcy again! Yikes!