Christmas 2021

In the days leading up to Christmas, Curtis and I did some holiday baking. We made Peanut Butter Kiss cookies, Puppy Chow, and our version of Thin Mints.

A few years ago on Bella's birthday, we drove to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for a holiday lights display. We decided to do that again this year and the lights did not disappoint! 

Curtis's teacher shared a couple pictures from school. 

The kids and I arrived at the basketball game before Andy could get there. When he arrived, we discovered that he and Bella were twinning! 

During the day on Christmas Eve, I heard Mabel barking. She very rarely barks and when she does, it's usually at something that blew into our yard. She spends a lot of her time sitting onto of our couch and looking out the window. She has the front yard memorized. Anything that doesn't seem to belong there will definitely grab her attention. 

Sure enough, there was a plastic bag that blew into our yard. It was way out by the road, but Mabel did not like its presence. Bella went and retrieved it. 

Keeping our family safe, one plastic bag at a time. 

Christmas Eve Service

The kids all looked so nice.

We always end up sitting in the front. For the candle light service, I wanted to be more toward the back. Seeing all the lights raised is such a beautiful sight, even more so when there are more lights in front of you. 

I try to not miss a good opportunity for family photos. 

Christmas Morning

Santa couldn't stay awake after the kids went to sleep, so he didn't end up coming until around 6am on Christmas morning. No worries though. The Kilps kids weren't awake until about 10am!

Before opening gifts, we always light the last light in our Advent Wreath.

We did matching pajamas this year! 

I made the shirts with the Cricut. I'm not happy with the vinyl I got. I didn't realize it would be so shiny and stiff. Oh well. 

A few silly outtakes. 

Curtis opened the first present that morning. He's been doing a lot of drawing lately. Bella made him this sketchbook.

Bella makes a lot of smoothie bowls. Graydon got her this coconut bowl to put them in.  

Graydon also got Curtis a new basketball.

Bella got Graydon a Harry Potter movie, book, and magazine. 

Curtis got Bella a new water bottle. Just in time too since she accidentally dropped her other one and broke the lid. 

Curtis loves the Calvin Klein brand because they share the same initials. For months, he's been asking for a hat with "cK" on it. He not only got the hat but a sweatshirt as well. 

The biggest gift (in terms of size) was Bella's new luggage. There were also two smaller suitcases nested inside this big one. 

Gift Rundown:

Bella: water bottle, smoothie bowl, luggage, heated mattress pad, snow pants, and snow boots

Graydon: Harry Potter stuff, Loki book, two GAP sweatshirts, $50 gift card to Hucks, snow pants, and snow boots

Curtis: basketball, body spray, sketchbook, cK hat & sweatshirt, $50 Hucks gift card, snow pants, and snow boots

Andy and I exchanged stocking for each other for the first time. He got me some chocolate, bath bombs, homemade soap, perfume, and socks. I got him some soap, spray, and lots of snacks.

Bella also made me this super thoughtful gift! We played several rounds of it that afternoon. 

And nothing says "Christmas cheer" like taking a Covid test! Curtis was exposed to COVID at school. A classmate who sits in his pod tested positive. That was over a week ago. He hadn't developed any symptoms, but we were about to head up to Wisconsin and we didn't want to take any chances of accidentally spreading anything. 

Thankfully, he is negative! That would have been a major bummer for us not to be able to go up and visit with family. 

Merry Christmas!