It’s that time of year for our annual “what-we-got-each-other” recap. We try to keep the holidays centered on family and gratitude rather than just gifts, but we do have a few traditions: we make Clara a couple of handmade items (like the play fridge and latchboard) and exchange small, thoughtful gifts with each other. We usually spend around $100 total per person, spread across a few items. First up: Clara’s play fridge, which she was thrilled to find on Christmas morning.
If you caught our Instagram on Christmas morning, you saw how delighted Clara was. We had set everything out in the living room near the tree, and the thing she loved most were the play eggs — which made sense because she had specifically asked Santa for “eggs and ice cream.”
After a bit of play kitchen time, we returned to the tree for more unwrapping. About 70% of the gifts were from or for extended family, since we keep our immediate family exchange small.
Clara tore into presents from relatives — stickers, markers, clothes, Legos, and a cozy winter hat she already calls her “pigtails” because of the long braids on the sides.
And Burger got a bag of his favorite bone treats plus a few other goodies. He loves them so much he even got out of bed early for the occasion.
Once the kids were happily occupied, Sherry and I exchanged gifts. She noticed I needed new t-shirts, so she gave me a stack of comfy tees from one of my favorite sources. They featured things I like — Virginia, mazes, bikes, and New York — and were exactly the cozy, thoughtful gift I wanted.
Sherry has joked about wanting a tattoo recently, so I surprised her with a set of temporary tattoos as a playful gift. I also picked up a kids’ monster pack for Clara so we could all join in — it ended up being a huge hit and soon we were all sporting matching little designs on our arms.
She’d mentioned liking a porcelain cottage lantern that was featured in a holiday round-up, so I got her a larger version and my sister and mom contributed two smaller lanterns. She adored them, and they now sit on our mantel.
Sherry drops hints well — think emails with subject lines like “think Santa knows that I love this?” — so I followed up on one of those and got her a colorful pillow from a favorite Etsy shop. She loved the pattern and the cozy feel.
And of course, I couldn’t resist getting her a pair of bold emerald-colored earrings she’d appreciate. They’re big, colorful, and look a bit like arrowheads — a win for both of us.
After our small family opening we headed to my parents’ house for a casual Christmas lunch with a larger group — my parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews, and some cousins who drove down from Northern Virginia. Naturally, there was more present opening there.
Clara’s favorite gift from “second Christmas” was a Make-A-Face sticker pad from her cousin Elsa. Watching the silly faces she creates with the stickers has become one of our favorite small entertainments. At first we helped with peeling stickers, but we quickly learned it’s more fun to let Clara place them herself.
Here’s a snapshot of Sherry helping Clara place her first sticker eye, though we mostly let Clara determine the final look. The results are always hilarious and utterly her own.
The best part of the day, as always, was spending time with family. Clara enjoyed some quality cousin time with Elsa, and we all appreciated the relaxed, goofy moments that make the holidays memorable.
We even realized we had accidentally dressed similarly that day — a funny little coincidence that made for a fun photo moment.
One of the more amusing touches was my dad’s makeshift indoor playground in the garage to entertain the six kids under five who were visiting. It looked a little odd — there was a slow slide that emptied into an unused baby pool — but it was brilliant at letting them burn off energy and stay out of the kitchen while lunch was being prepared. It was perfectly silly and perfectly practical.
That’s how our Christmas unfolded — a mix of handmade surprises, small thoughtful gifts, family traditions, and plenty of laughter. We also hosted Christmas dinner at our house earlier in the week, which added to the joyful chaos.
How were your holidays? What did you give or get, and did any new traditions or special family news come up? We learned during our gatherings that two of our cousins are expecting, which was a lovely surprise. We’d love to hear about your celebrations and any memorable moments you had this season.