....and its over.

Normally by the time the holiday season is finished I am exhausted and ready to not have to deal with any of the chaos for at least another year. This year was different. I think I have enjoyed this holiday season 10x more than any other one I have ever had. Aspen made everything soooo much fun. We were really festive this year and participated in so many activities. After things were winding down yesterday and we were home from all of our Christmas stops, I felt myself getting a little sad that it was all over so fast. We went over to my in laws for Christmas Eve. We have a family dinner with them and my brother-in-law and his family and then open presents. We had a blast this year; I think we all hung out until midnight just enjoying each other's company. That is late considering most of us are usually in bed by nine, haha. Diane (my mother in law) prepared a delicious ham dinner and we made pomegranate martinis. After we opened our gifts from each other we busted out the Rock Band. I had so much fun watching Justin play this game, he got so into it, haha. And it was so cute to listen to Atlee (my niece) sing Linkin Park songs word for word! She is only 8! Once we got home that night (after midnight) Justin and I had some Santa-ing to do. We got everything set up for Aspen and then took turns doing stockings for each other. It was soooooo much fun, I think being Santa is my favorite part about Christmas. The next morning we had to wait for all the grandparents and even the great grandparents to get there before we could let Aspen even come down the stairs and see what Santa had left there. She was so thrilled when she saw her "piano". She ran right over and sat down and started playing it! IT made me so happy!!! We had so much fun watching her go through her stocking and open some of her gifts. It truely was magical watching her face light up. After we finished up at our house we headed over to Grandpa ROger's house (my dad's). My brother made us a nice breakfast and we all exchanged gifts. We had a blast. My dad got a great big fishing net for his boat and Aspen spent the entire time we were there hanging it off the back of the couch and yelling, "OH BOY I GOT A BIG ONE!! I CAUGHT A FISH!!" It was sooooo funny and boy did it make her dad and grandpa proud to hear her talking like that!!! :) After Grandpa Roger's house it was off to Grandma and Grandpa Covingtons for Christmas prime rib and the extended family gift exchange. We do this every year. It was nice to see my extended family. We are all so busy that we rarely see each other, so it was nice to spend time together. We finally got home at nearly 8 oclock at night and we were sooo exhausted. We made a bed out of pillows and blankets on the floor and turned on the fireplace and snuggled while watching "Horton Hears A Who." It was the perfect way to end the perfect holiday season. I am so blessed.
Justin is reliving his old rock star days! :) He actually was really good at this game and he got sooooo into it while he was playing. It was hilarious to watch.
Jake looked like he was in the middle of performing brain surgery while he was playing the drums. Justin asked him, "Dude are you in pain?" Haha. I guess the drums are really hard. :)
Leslie and Micah were on guitar. They also look like they are concentrating pretty hard. haha.This was the setup for Christmas morning. Aspen got a little stand up keyboard that has a stool to sit on and a real microphone. SHE LOVES IT SO MUCH!!! We also got her a bunch of balloons, not really traditional of Christmas, but since they are her favorite thing in the whole world we thought it would be fun!! She hasn't let them out of her sight!!Aspen started playing her keyboard and singing right away!!! Eating Christmas breakfast at my dad's house. Don't ask me why we are sitting on the living room floor instead of at the table, haha.