Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals

I hope everyone had themselves a merry little Christmas, because we sure did!

We spent the holiday weekend in my hometown at my parents' house, and it was so nice to just kick back, relax, and enjoy each other's company. Ryder was also much more aware of what was going on this year, so that made things much more exciting and fun.

Christmas Eve was full of anticipation. Ryder wasn't quite sure what all the fuss was about, but he knew it was exciting. We actually gave him his "big" present early this year -- a play kitchen! And we made sure to adhere to all of our traditional Christmas Eve activities: Holiday movies, Chinese food, church with Mom, and Moscow Mules of course!

Finally, the wait was over and Christmas morning arrived. Ryder could hardly believe his good luck: He could actually rip into all the presents we'd been saying "No, no!" about for weeks!

Is there anything better than the epic mess created on Christmas morning?

Yes, my entire family has matching Christmas jammies, which we wear with pride every year. And of course this Christmas I had to get a pair for my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Morgan. 

Ryder was just as excited about his play cookware as he was about the actual kitchen. 

Yes, even the dog has Christmas jimmies. Go big or go home.

Ryder had some interesting ideas about how to use the tools from the new set his Uncle AJ and Aunt Morgan gave him.

Now that's one good-lookin' family if I do say so myself. There's not much I love more than an outfit theme.

One of my favorite presents this year was a selfie stick! It provided endless entertainment all day long...

It's a tradition in our family for my grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins to come over for brunch and a White Elephant gift exchange on Christmas morning. This meant even more selfie stick fun for everyone!

Aren't my grandparents adorable?

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Ryder with his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.

All tuckered out after a very merry Christmas.

Oh, did you think that was the end of it?

Heck no, my friends.

Ryder still had things to do and people to see. 

Stewart had to work the day after Christmas, but Ryder and I took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time at my Grandma Sally's house.

My Aunt Karen also stopped by with her dog Sophie, and of course Ryder was immediately in love. That kid loves animals so much. I am secretly dreading the day when he asks Santa for a puppy...

And Christmas isn't Christmas without a little Seahawks football!

We attended the last bittersweet Hawkwagon Tailgate of the season, which included a disappointing loss against the Rams. 

Overall, I'd say that Christmas this year was one for the record books. We're learning that every holiday is more and more fun now that we have a child to share it with. Each one seems to contain just a little bit of magic again.

I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful holiday with everyone you love, and may all your Christmases be white...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Holidays 2015

From our family to yours... 

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a happy New Year!

Decking the Halls

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care way up high, out of reach from sticky toddler hands.

We made sure to adhere to some of our favorite Christmas traditions this year, and it all started with cutting down a Christmas tree at Enchanted Winds Christmas Tree Farm. Of course we had to do it in the pouring rain, but that's Pacific Northwest living for you!

Ryder didn't mind the weather one bit, and he was such a good boy helping us pick out the perfect tree. Stew exercised his manly patriarchal duties and cut it down for us while I huddled under the umbrella. We were happy to head inside afterward to stand by the fire and warm up.

We took our lovely tree home and spent the next afternoon listening to holiday music while we decked the halls and made the house Christmas-y. 

We knew that hanging our stockings on the fireplace mantle would result in an immediate disaster when Ryder yanked on them, so we had to come up with a more creative, toddler-friendly solution for the stockings this year. 

Stew's mom made his stocking for him when he was little, and a few years ago he had one made for me in the same style. Then of course last year we had to get one for Ryder, too. And my mom has been giving me these creepy carolers for years now for some reason...

Every year we try to buy Christmas ornaments at some point during our travels. This year we got some super cute stuff on our trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon. We got this super cute, wooden, Christmas-scene Advent calendar, plus a whole set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ornaments for Ryder and an adorable one of Santa at the beach.

Our tree is a little smaller this year, and we didn't go crazy with the ornaments (I still have a whole box left in the garage) but I still think it turned out so pretty. 

Receiving photo Christmas cards is one of my favorite things about December! I love checking the mail every day to see what else has arrived. And Ryder absolutely loves standing at the fridge, pointing at the cards and identifying all his friends and family members in the photos. It's downright adorable.

And of course Ryder visited Santa! Although he wasn't nearly as thrilled about the situation this year. I think he was just humoring Mom and Dad...

We will be spending Christmas this year with my family in Olympia, and I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. I'm so excited about all the gifts I bought for everyone, and I'm really looking forward to some nice relaxing holiday time with everyone I love.

Bring on the Christmas cheer!

Happy Holidays from the Hawkwagon!

Happy Holidays, Hawk Fans!

I have no idea if anyone has noticed (or cared) that I haven't been posting Seahawks football fan updates every single week this season. But don't worry — as loyal 12s, we've still been watching and cheering for every single game, and hanging out with our Hawkwagon Tailgater Association family whenever our boys play at home.

This past Sunday was our annual Hawkwagon Holiday Party, my favorite game day of the year!

We have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, a white elephant gift exchange, and all the rest of our traditional Hawkwagon activities (like the shot-ski).

We enjoyed a nice solid win against Cleveland (clinching our playoff spot) before heading home to our little baby Seahawk.

Football is a huge part of the holidays for us, and we're so thankful to our Hawkwagon family for helping to make the season extra special.

Merry Christmas to one and all... GO HAWKS!