Payne Family Christmas Holiday Highlights - 2022
The 2022 holiday season is coming to an end, and let me just say, I am so sad to see it go. Looking back on the camera roll on my phone really reminded me how special this time of life is. Our baby girl is at such a special age (18 months), and seeing her enjoy in the Family Christmas holiday festivities this year was truly magical.
Deck the halls
Busting out the Christmas decorations this year.. my first thought was… didn’t I just put these up? Yes, yes I did. But, alas, once November 1st rolled in, the decorations rolled out!
Christmas Time = Creative Time
This time of year always gets my creative side going. I did a lot of digital drawing on my iPad and was able to doodle out some cute holiday clipart that I ended up using in some products for the HEP shop like our Winter Bucket List, Christmas Activity Cards, and Winter Stationery. Some of the designs even ended up on some decorative tags that I used to decorate our annual DIY Advent Calendar. I really love being able to incorporate my own illustrations in the printable products I create and share with you all!
Bustin’ Through Our Bucket List
Our winter bucket list was jam packed this year, and I am very proud to say that we accomplished all but 1 item on it! Sorry neighbors, but we did not get a chance to deliver any baked treats to you. Mainly because I always ate them before we got the chance but…
But we did have a blast doing other things on our list like picking out the perfect Christmas tree, visiting Universal Orlando to enjoy their holiday festivities, baking lots of yummy cookies, walking through the local Christmas lights festival, visiting the zoo, and so much more!
Chillin’ with the cousins
We are so incredibly lucky to live so close to family. Our little girl is old enough now where she really remembers her family and her cousins when we go to visit them. She actually would not stop hugging her cousins. It was pretty much the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I think she likes that they are more her size and she can almost get her arms all the way around them. Anyway… it’s adorable.
Christmas Day!
The night before I got to help Santa for the first time! Okay… I guess I got to do this last year, but Christmas after your baby turns 1 just feels different. Other mamas, can you relate? Pulling those presents out of their hiding places in the closet and carefully placing them under the tree felt really special.
Christmas morning was wonderful. We had brunch at our place with my parents and family. We opened gifts. We drank mimosas and coffee. We set up our old Wii gaming system and played Rhythm Heaven Fever. (A Christmas gift from my brother of an old game we used to play that they don’t make anymore and he found a copy for me and it was the best gift ever.) It was a perfect day.
Some of our Christmas Gift Favorites
Our little girl is really enjoying her:
Giant Bluey plush from Mama and Dada
Cleaning and broom set from Nana and Pop-Pop
Baby Doll from Grandma & Grandpa
Grocery food set from her cousins
Little Pookie books from Santa
Austin and I are really enjoying our:
Luggage set from Austin’s parents (we are obsessed)
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum cleaner from my parents (we are OBSESSED)
And I am really enjoying my:
Ceramic pan set from Austin (Love you babe!)
