I hope you don’t mind if I step away from our usual talking points today to share with you some highlights from our holiday in a mostly picturesque way with some disjointed text thrown in for memories’ sake.
It was Faye’s first Christmas and she spent most of the morning just observing, as she normally does. About half way through opening presents, I pulled her highchair over and have her some munchies and her new remote (that she is obsessed with!) and she was completely happy and content until her 9 o’clock nap.
Greta was up around 7:30 and the whole day was magical. The whole season is magical with a 4 year old. She asked Santa for THREE Littlest Pet Shops. We, honestly, had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. (Oy!) She totally loves them, though. My favorite gift was a gold necklace from Chris with the girls’ initials on it and Chris’s favorite was a Himalayan Salt block I got him.
That night, we tried out the shadow book we got for Greta (straight from our gift guide!) and we were all very amused. I can’t wait to get more in the series. It’s become a nighttime staple.
My little sister lives in Mexico and she and her boyfriend came up for Christmas and one of my older sisters, Victoria, flew in from Pittsburgh where we’re all from, so all 5 of us were all together for a good week for the holiday. We took turns entertaining and hosting. The 26th, we had everyone over our place for a night of homemade sushi (Chris made a few rolls and then taught everyone how to roll, too!) and karaoke. We hooked Chris’s computer up to a projector and went to town searching for all the karaoke versions of all of our favorite songs on YouTube. Above you see Andi and her boyfriend breaking it down with Can’t Fight This Feeling. The girl knows every song. Every song!
That same talented singer of a little sister is also pretty good behind the camera. She offered to take our family photo while she was here. It usually completely stresses me out, but doing it right in our own home in whatever we were wearing made it so nice and casual.
We had to crop it in to use it for our new blog photo, but I couldn’t resist sharing the full version because a family picture wouldn’t be complete without Charly snoring in it!
It snowed and snowed. Christmas eve the streets were dry and the lawns were brown. We woke up to at least a foot with more falling. It felt just like the movies.
One of our last gatherings was a formal adult-only dinner party my sister, Victoria, put on at my parents’ house. She water-colored and inked all the place cards and menu. I am going to frame it, it is so pretty. And what a menu! She spent days prepping and all day cooking and it was one of the best meals I ever ate. Chris agrees. Andi even snapped a photo of each couple. It felt like a true schmancy night.
After my sisters left on their planes and before the missing-them set in, there was one last event before we could all get back to our every day jobs. My parents bought the house next door to us (with a little coaxing on our part ;) and we helped them pack up their old home across town…
And move into the new one!
Their new home is so nice and we are so excited for them and us! It is very literally the house right next to ours.
As good as that all was–and it was oh so good–the best part of the holiday was having Chris home for a few days. The girls (Charly included) were just glued to him. It was so cute to watch and nice to have some free hands for a few minutes, too. Thanks for letting me spill a few disjointed details here today. I hope your holidays were equally as wonderful. Favorite gift you received or gave?!
your family very very lovely!!!
so sweet
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Our back yard and my parents back yard touch! It has been so nice to have them so close. I am so grateful for the relationship my children have had with their grandparents! We almost moved away but felt a strong prompting to stay, which I am so glad we did. A few months later my mom was diagnose with cancer! It was an insanely hard 8 months, but us being so close made it a little easier. Now with my mom gone, I am so glad that we can watch over my dad. Enjoy having your parents close! I would have changed anything about it! In fact we have outgrown our home and everything we look at must have space for my dad.
That just touched my heart, Kem. We are so grateful to have them close.
it reads and looks like a fairytale. simply beautiful. :)