Christmas 2013

Our Christmas preparations began in earnest on the 23rd.  Of course, this was also the day I felt pretty miserable.  A good old fashioned nap helped and I was able to get everything done that I needed to in order to be ready for the next day.  That was two batches of peppermint brownies and one batch of shortbread.

On Christmas Eve, in the morning, we had our family Christmas here, before going to my parents for the rest of the week.  That wasn't quite like I had planned.  I was still not feeling too well, so I scrapped the homemade gluten free cinnamon rolls and we had peanut butter toast, then Cameron had to do some work before we could leave.  I just kept reminding myself, these things were fine, over and over. :)  And they were.

Don't worry, Callie didn't get left out, she just didn't have them piled in her lap. :)

That evening we left for Grandmother and Granddaddy's.  My sister's church was having their Christmas Eve service at 11:00 pm.  I had my doubts about myself and Kate going, but I was feeling better and Kate handled it just fine.

The next day we celebrated with presents, food and games and lots of laughter.

I've been thinking it was the "best Christmas ever", but I can't really say that.  There was the Christmas of 1999 with a brand new baby girl, then there was the Christmas of 2006 spent in China receiving a little older baby girl.  You just can't beat a new baby at Christmas.  That is, after all, what it's all about!  There are many wonderful Christmases that we have been blessed with.

This one was by far the best in relation to children and peace.  I guess they are at an age now where they just don't need a referee as much.  Just a little direction every now and then.

Somebody got to "help" open a lot of presents

The picture that showed the sheer joy on her face was way too blurry.  You can trust me that she was very pleased with her new sweater.

There just really aren't any words for this one.  

While waiting for dinner to be ready we had a little photography session.  We took some without the props too, but these are much better!

Everyone agreed that we had had enough turkey and mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving so we went with a Lasagna Christmas this year.  There were three different kinds, along with bread and salad and desserts.

 This wasn't the end of our celebrating, just the end of most of my pictures.  Friday, my sisters and my mom and I went to see "Saving Mr. Banks" and out to eat for a belated birthday night out.  We had a great time and the movie was really good.  Now I want to read Mary Poppins.  Callie did not like the book at all and I know it is quite different than the movie, but now that I have an understanding of why, I'm curious and want to read it myself.

The next night, we decided to hire a sitter and my sisters and their husbands and Cameron and I all went out to dinner and then back to the "no kid house" to hang out.  There are not pictures of that!  We had a great time and decided that should be a new tradition.  I couldn't believe we had never done that before!  It was way too much fun.

The only thing that would have made it better?  Some snow! :)