Finally, the last of the Christmas pictures. Better late than never, right? And since I just want to get this done, there are roughly a jillion pictures below. Or maybe just a zillion.
Christmas morning was spent at our house for the second year in a row. I love it, but I have been informed by my sisters that we will be at mom and dad's house next year. Something about needing to rotate or "go home for the holidays," or some other such nonsense. Whatever.
We ate what has become our standard breakfast: biscuits and gravy, and fried bread dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar. The kids opened another round of presents, including us big kids. I'm still super happy with my new Keurig, although my coffee/hot drink intake is reaching alarming levels.
After Mia's nap, we headed to Ryan's parents' house for another dinner, and a few more gifts and stockings.
Laci spent the entire month of December asking for a real Dalmatian puppy. I explained multiple times that we aren't ready to get a real puppy, and certainly not a Dalmatian puppy, but she couldn't be swayed. I was hoping she wouldn't notice the lack of puppy, and she didn't. Or at least she didn't say anything.
Mia got her own battery operated vehicle, a red Razr style, from Nonny and Papa E. Red, no doubt, because it will someday be Noah's and he might not like driving a pink Barbie jeep so much. I didn't get her expression with my camera but as we unveiled her new toy, I could tell she was super excited and completely aware that she was the center of the show for a minute. She's an expert at pushing the gas pedal, but she could learn a few things about steering. And while the Razr was a big hit, I think her most favorite gift is the baby cradle and high chair she received from Aunty Beth. We made the mistake of letting her open that gift first, it was difficult to get her interested in opening anything else. If it had been the only gift of the day, I think she would have been perfectly happy. She is a devoted momma to her babies and has played with it almost everyday.
I am always so thankful for all the gifts, time spent with family, all the good parts of being together and enjoying life. But I was also thankful to return home to a quiet house. Babies asleep. Calm. I was drained. We spent the entire next day in our pajamas, playing with new toys, and I went on a crazy purging/organizing spree trying to find places for all the new stuff. Now, a month later, it seems Christmas is a distant memory. Laci asks almost everyday when it will be Christmas again. She misses the tree and the decorations and the lights most. She has already asked for her own pink tree next year and has been making snowflakes to decorate it. I'll do my best to make her little dreams come true for as long as I can.
As for this holiday season, my single greatest achievement is this family picture. Not perfect by any means, but the one and only picture in existence that includes all five of us.
And that's a wrap.
