We had such a sweet, festive December that Christmas itself kind of felt like icing on the cake. Twinkly lights and meals with friends and living room sleepovers and a trip to Portland to see the family?! How lucky were we? The anticipation was just so, so good this year.
We drove down to my brother’s house on Thursday, stopping once so that I could nurse Isaac in a Safeway parking lot while Shane and Juliette darted into a Starbucks for coffee and lemon loaf – gone are the days of “powering through†without a pitstop, at least for now. We were greeted by the cousins and my parents, who all remarked over how much Isaac had grown since they had seen him in the fall. Juliette was eager to get her hands on Bina, Grandma was eager to get her hands on the baby.
Christmas Eve was lazy – games and cookie decorating and plenty of lounging. Morgan and Juliette convinced my dad to play Mario Kart and then delivered him a solid whooping. C’mon girls – have a little Christmas mercy!
The kids each got to open a Christmas Eve present…
There was the traditional viewing of the Polar Express…
And then cookies and an apple (we were out of carrots!) were left out for Santa and his reindeer by these two little elves.
By the time I came upstairs on Christmas morning, gifts had been sorted into neat little piles for each person – Morgan and Juliette were vibrating with anticipation and eagerly counting down to our 8:30 rendez-vous time (Elise likes to sleep in!). Finally, the clock struck half-past, the family was gathered, and the wrapping paper started to fly.
(Isaac wanted to trade the cloth avocado I put in his stocking for the Skittles Juliette had in hers. Fat chance.)
Juliette asked Santa for shoes this Christmas, and he came through with a pair of riding boots.
Juliette is so sweet and enjoys watching people open presents as much as she enjoys opening gifts herself. She gives a friendly little clap after each unwrapping, like, “Wow! You’re so lucky you got that!”
Could it really be…?
A Hogwarts sweatshirt for our little Harry Potter fan!
Whew! The calm after the gift-opening hurricane.
Being spoiled is tiring, huh, kid?
We got out for a short walk before lunch but the cold sent us back inside before long. Morgan was desperate for a white Christmas and was thrilled to see a few flakes start to fall, though they quickly petered out.
Isaac threw the fit to end all fits that afternoon but eventually conked out in my arms. I guess the excitement of it all was just too much.
Juliette played with Shane’s new Oculus…
Was wowed by Elise’s Illustration skills…
Played a very rambunctious game of hallway dodgeball with her uncle…
And this kid kept sleeping.
Isaac “opened” a couple more gifts once he got his second wind.
There we go, buddy! Look alive!
Shane and Mitch took the girls to the school in the afternoon to test out Morgan’s new basketball and Elise’s new volleyball (sport-playing is Shane’s love language).
Then Juliette unwound in the hot tub.
And I unwound on the couch with my favorite guy and glass of Cabernet.
We had our traditional country ham for dinner and I felt exceedingly thankful for the people around the table but intensely missed the family not there. Minnesota clan, you were held near and dear in our hearts!
We ended the night with more games, more togetherness. Juliette and Morgan made up a game called “Tickle Doctor” and convinced my brother to play – it bordered on torture, but I watched from a safe distance and laughed till I cried.
We woke up Sunday morning to a day-after white Christmas – Juliette and Morgan frolicked in the front yard for a bit and I bundled up Isaac for his first romp in the snow.
My parents had hit the road early that morning, but the cousins got a couple of hours of chill time while Shane loaded our circus of stuff into the car.
And then we were homeward-bound. I hopped into the backseat near Tacoma to soothe an antsy baby, which came with the added bonus of cozying up next to Juliette.
Almost there, Buddy!
And…made it.
The kids opened the last of their presents at home and while Isaac had no clue that half that stuff was for him, sister was awfully stoked on his behalf.
Gah! The things this girl will show and teach you, Isaac.
Juliette made use of her fashion plates from Auntie Tiff…
Isaac modeled his new pajamas from Grandma Schnell…
The last 2021 ornament was hung on the tree…
And then it was onto New Years. And SNOW. The fun continues…