Christmas was always magical as a kid, but nothing compares to actually being a parent at Christmas. Seeing the magic in a whole new light through your child’s eyes is just a feeling that can’t be explained. As the holiday season officially comes to an end tonight at the strike of midnight, I wanted to take a look back & share some of my favorite holiday moments from this year.
We took Shane to the photo studio to get Holiday photos taken for the first time! He was a little shy at first but then he totally hammed it up. We used a few of the photos for our Christmas cards- which we also sent out for the first time!
The day after Thanksgiving, our elf came back to visit and brought with him another special North Pole Breakfast. He spent a magical month with us &everyone was sad to see him go!
One thing Shane really wanted this year was a White Christmas- but we live in Vegas. {It was in the mid-60’s and sunny that day.} Justin drives to Utah once a week for work, and one of those times it happened to be snowing so he packed his lunchbox full of it & brought it home so that Shane could have his first snowball fight!
Shane had been looking forward to his Christmas program for months– he was working so hard on every song & practiced at home every night! I was thrilled to finally get to go watch it, even if he got struck with stage fright & barely sang a word.
We fulfilled our annual tradition of going to see the Christmas lights at the Las Vegas Speedway. They do a whole event called Glittering Lights & it’s miles of Christmas lights displays. We always stop for hot chocolate &coffee {decaf peppermint mocha for me} on the way & enjoy the lights together!
I took Shane to Build a Bear to make Rudolph- something I’ve wanted to do for years! Since making him a couple of weeks ago, he has brought him to bed with him every night & back down to play every morning.
On Christmas Eve, we made Christmas cookies & decorated a Gingerbread House!
&Then of course, we had a very magical Christmas. We spent the day with family & Shane got way, way too many presents.
The one thing that you can’t really tell from these photos is that poor Shane was sick almost the entire time. He came down with a cold in early December & just hasn’t been able to shake it. He’s on antibiotics now but one thing that’s really helped us is his Simply Saline Baby nose spray, something he’s used for as long as I can remember when he gets really stuffed up.
Arm & Hammer recently sent me the adult version, Simply Saline, and that helped me get through the season too. I didn’t get hit with the sickness nearly as bad as Shane did, but due to being so far along in my pregnancy my nose has definitely swollen, making it hard to breathe sometimes {especially when it’s cold out}.
Simply Saline is a mist that helps relieve symptoms of dry, irritated nose while flushing dust, dirt, pollen, and congestion from nasal and sinus passages. It’s drug-free, so it’s safe for use in pregnant women & can be used as needed. Unlike other nasal sprays, it’s non-addictive and very gentle. I would have been miserable this month if I didn’t have it to help me!
To learn more about Simply Saline or any of Arm & Hammer’s other great products, be sure to check out their website– and don’t miss their Savings Center, where you can find coupons! {Psst- be sure to enter my giveaway for a great Arm & Hammer prize pack including 2-3 Arm & Hammer products and a $100 Visa Gift Card!}
What was the most magical moment of your holiday season?
OH I love that he brought home snow! Our most magical moment was seeing zoo lights all together.
Bringing home snow, how awesome. Looks like your holiday was very memorable.
I didn’t know about either version. Going to get some for Gus. It’s pitiful when they are at that age where they can’t take medicines at all.
I ADORE the fact that your hubby brought snow home!! My most memorable moment this holiday season was surprising my mom with a visit from my brother and nephew. They live in California and we are in Tennessee. I love being able to surprise people. I even shared the video on my blog. I will never forget it!
WE had a perfectly lovely day at home- and then, that dang elf on a shelf made a mess! it was a perfect holiday
Awwwwwww Daddy really scored getting snow back for S!!! Love it!!
(P.S. We’re huge saline spray users in our home too!!)
It looks like you really had a great Christmas! I miss having a little one during the Christmas season, it’s more fun when they still believe in Santa!
Ohmagoodness, the picture of him with the snowman is absolutely adorable! Best wishes in 2014!
Aww, poor Shane it sucks to be sick and under the weather when so much fun stuff is going on! We had a great Christmas for the first time ever we had family come visit us for the holidays. Watching my 7 and 4 year old nephews with all the things we did and opening their gifts was so fun.
That light display is the coolest!!!! Also, how sweet was the lunchbox of snow fun? That was an awesome surprise!
I love all of these pictures! Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas season!
That is the happiest and sweetest little boy I have ever seen. So glad you had a super xmas!
What a great post, it is always so nice to look back, looks like he had a great Christmas.
I love this!! Those are all amazing pictures. I can’t wait to take my kids to either Build A Bear or American Girl Store someday. Happy New Year!
So many fun memories! B would have loved to play with the snow!!
Ahh, I love this! It looks like you had a marvelous Christmas! I can’t believe how fast your little man is growing up!
You have had a beautiful year! I am so happy to know and look forward to seeing you in 2014!
I love seeing the smiles on my childrens’ faces on Christmas morning.
I have two sick kids right now so I need this! Happy New Year!
I love that your husband brought snow home! How fun!
Sweet photos. Your son is a cutie! Your elf looks so new. Ours is so vintage it looks like he is wearing rags. Lol. Love the Christmas program photo, it’s just adorable.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE these images, and what a wonderful holiday you had!
What a special Christmas! Here in Denver we often have Christmas times that are 60 degrees +. This year I think it was about 50.
What a wonderful Christmas season you guys had (sorry Shane was feeling under the weather, though)! I love all the pics and that your husband brought home snow. So sweet!
So sweet. It looks like he had a wonderful holiday
Everyone was sick around Christmas time (still sick), but we had a wonderful time, nonetheless!
What a wonderful holiday celebration you had with your family! The lights at the Las Vegas Speedway look amazing. What a wonderful tradition!
It looks like you and your family had such a great holiday season! We seem to share many similar traditions.
such a picture perfect time your family had. Love it and has inspired me as well
Looks like you had a great holiday! Thanks for sharing all the fun pics.
The picture of him coming downstairs with Rudolph is adorable! Sorry to hear he was so sick. 🙁 Love that you did a NPB — it’s one of our favorite traditions!
Looks like you had a beautiful holiday season!
I fell in love with the first picture, that is awesome. I’d get that one enlarged, too cute. Loved seeing the pics, thanks for sharing. Looks like a wonderful Christmas y’all had
I have to say…. Christmas has not been as fun since my daughter grew up. It really makes a difference to have a young child to enjoy christmas with