in all the years that we have been local, we celebrate christmas early, with derek’s parents and his sister’s family, with a semi-swedish themed meal and gift exchange, at his parents house. i suppose they have celebrated it without us in the years that we weren’t local, but i guess i’ll allow it.
anyhoooo. here’s some shots from this years “swedish christmas”. i think the kiddos are outgrowing the back sunroom.
grandlidbom grandkids 2019. 
grandlidbom grandkids 2012. (sorry hazel). 
obligatory plate of food shot. 
the cousins, playing with our gift to them. a speed cube. 
the girls in matching robes. they are fans. 
of course i brought a giant plate of cookies.
with swedish christmas in the books, it was time to focus on actual christmas just around the corner. i had been hiding gifts in my quilt closet, unwrapped, because then i won’t forget what is what along the way. so, on christmas eve, it was time to get to wrapping. once i had gifts from derek and i wrapped, i called each kid in to wrap their presents to each other. it was pretty cute.
massive gift pile. 
hazelnut, filling out a label.
for our first christmas in the stupid new house, we opted to spend christmas eve together as a family. derek cooked up a GIANT batch of the kiddos favorite food, mac n cheese, and we played board games and watched christmas movies.
so much mac n cheese. remember this. 
disney pictopia.
after the lidkids were nestled all snug in their beds, i brought down all the gifts and stuffed stockings, while i watched christmas vacation, which is not quite family friendly viewing for our kiddos just yet.
stocking tetris. 
the giant tree in all it’s glory, stuffed with gifts.
in the morning, i woke up and snuck a cup of coffee with ruby, and we had a little photoshoot, before the kiddos strolled in, ready for the tearing open of presents.
christmas dog. 
lidkid and fur kid christmas photo.
and then it was present opening time. i think the kids were pretty pleased with their hauls. lots of legos, stranger things paraphernalia, ballet gear, art supplies, footwear, and frozen themed items. then at the end, i told the big kids i had almost forgotten a little gag gift i had picked up the day before at the dollar store. as they opened it, and realized they both were getting real iphones, the looks on their faces was priceless.
waiting.watching. 
tearing. 
stuffed eleven doll. happy girl. 
mermaid snuggie (from the thrift store). 
newest iphone users.
once the first round of gift opening was complete and the aftermath mostly attended to, we began preparing a fantastic breakfast feast. bacon, pancakes, eggs, toast, english muffins, hashbrowns, juices, milks, and of course, more coffee.
family breakfast photoshoot. 
so. much. food.
then. it was time for round two of gift opening. this time, gifts from my parents and uncle frankie. seriously. so many presents.
mood ring i think? 
frozen poster. 
candy chemistry. happy kid. 
stranger things shirt. super happy kid. 
planetarium pop up book. 
frozen legos. 
ballet gear. 
the most intense beekeeper handbook.
we had another round of cleaning up and then we waited for the grandlidboms and aunt madge to roll up on the scene. the kids played with new toys, derek got the phones up and running, and it was time to relax.
instagrammer. 
anna and elsa and hazel.
the family hung out all afternoon, while we worked to prepare the christmas feast to end all christmas feasts. derek cooked up an amazing prime rib, loaded baked potatoes, brussels sprouts, rolls and leftover mac n cheese. i quite literally stuffed my face. no regrets.
prime rib. 
feast. 
take me back.
and finally. one last pic of the fam, before diving in. a lovely christmas.
Looks like your new house was treated to a royal Christmas celebration by the Lidbom family. You guys know how to throw a party!