Christmas Break visit from cousins

This year we were lucky enough to have the Mayer family visit us for a few days from California. The kids and adults alike really enjoyed spending some relaxing time together and enjoying reconnecting. 

We had easy mornings with lots of strong coffee and conversation whilst the kids ran wild rediscovering the last tag guns and other fun things they enjoyed like tag and basketball. 

We had an impromptu game night together one evening with kids and then later an adult version. 

We had a family day that includes ice skating and a big dinner. 

It was really great watching the kids reconnect after three years. I hope we can do this more in the future. 

Christmas traditions

I love Christmas. I have many fond memories from Christmas traditions with my family as a kid. I don’t remember many presents really but I remember the excitement of Christmas Eve, the energy having to sit through Christmas Eve church, the cookies, stockings, waking early and waiting until we were allowed up. I remember opening our stockings at a different time then all the other presents. 

As a mom I have tried to make these traditions and even more with my kids. Turns out they really do remember them and I think they even appreciate them. We have added a few of our own along the way as well such as making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and decorating them on Christmas Eve. We also started having a charcuterie board dinner after church and Grammas special bread for Christmas morning breakfast. Playing a family game of charades when we can like the Cummings family did. 

Waiting for Ellie to get ready Christmas morning 

Clair made this pillow for daddy. 

Ellie made this bow for me. 

So tired 

Christmas crackers 

The past 48 hours have been great with the kids. They have appreciates the traditions and the experiences and all thanked me for their presents. 

Clair did have a super hard time setting down last night and was up by 430 am singing Christmas carols while she used the bathroom and waking everyone else up in the path. But she was so sweet I did not even yell. I absolutely love the energy and happiness she has for Christmas. She was absolutely wrecked when we were done opening gifts at 11 am. But she made it through the evening at jerred and Vicki’s with a smile on her face. 

Jerred and Vicki joshes cuzzie Christmas this year and on Christmas night. It wa different but that’s okay. It was nice being together and the fact everyone appeared healthy enough for this to happen was a lovey Christmas miracle. 

It’s been a great day of gifts, relaxation and family time. Tomorrow we wake up and do it again at grammas. 

Christmas readiness started early this year

Clair started asking about the Christmas tree in October. The girl has plans. She wanted the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. My rule is that it has to be December. Well, she won! 

At nine she is full of energy and joy and love for the world. She is so excited for Christmas and the magic. She believes and loves with her full heart. This makes it magical for us both and I decided to try to indulge as much as I could with her this year from the early tree decorating, to all the traditions she remember, to the early arrival of the Elf, to shopping for siblings, to decorating, cookies, fudge, countdown chains, oh my! 

She decorated her desk. 

She brought Christmas decorations up from the basement storage and put them out herself. 

The elves insisted we continue the cherry pie tradition after tree decorating Continues. 

Walking in the Christmas Parade with Girl Scouts and enjoying giving out candy from her Santa sack. 

After the parade. 

Small crew this year waiting for Santa. 

Santa gave her a present. 

She won the guess for one of the candies and Aliza won the other one. 

Visiting Santa with Gramma and her cousins 

We even ordered matching PJs which I’ve never done with her!

Max and David head to Scotland

on November 3rd  David and Max embarked on their adventure to visit Granny and Millar for a long weekend. I’m excited for their adventure. 

We took them to the airport and ensured they got checked in, and saw them off through to security. Max was excited; Clair was a little sad. She says she will miss Max a lot. I love how much they love each other and rely on each other’s friendship. 

We had them find the check in counter using the Map. I love that they like these challenges navigating. 

Max looks really grown up here. 

Clair was genuinely sad. 

They had a great trip. Grannie spoiled them both and they seem to survive the jet lag quite well, definitely better then MammaH on the returns from Poland. 

Genuine care and sweetness

I’m amazed sometimes at how caring Clair is. When she sees me upset or even uncomfortable, she provides physical touches such as hugs or back rubs or sweet kisses on the cheek with genuine care and desire to soothe. She is so heartfelt. I don’t know who taught her this and her parents can’t take credit for it. I truly think she gets this from relatives pat she has never met. 

Tonight I’m doing a nose rinse and she reaches over and starts just rubbing my back.