Christmas Synposis

Thank goodness a lot of you guys took a Christmas blogging break as I was feeling horribly guilty for not writing for so long! Unlike some of you lucky ducks, I only had three days off over the holidays, so most everything felt like a whirlwind. Things have settled down, though, so I thought I would do a holiday post. Fortunately, my in laws voyaged with us to West Virgina or I would have zero pictures!

Christmas Eve is celebrated at my Mamaw's and Papaw's house. I grew up with this tradition and I am so happy Jonathan gets to continue it with his great grandparents. Here he is looking at a really cool Thomas book Mamaw and Papaw got him:



And here are a couple of him going under the tree to look for his name on presents. Never mind that he can't read--he was insistent that he was looking for his name as he readily picked up on the fact that there were tags on each present identifying its intended recipient. The funny thing about this is, when I was little, we opened presents last thing of the evening and Mamaw told us she would take our gifts back if we touched them. Now that she has a great grandson, he can open presents whenever he wants and she even helps him find his! Next year, we really need to put all his gifts in front or at least wrap them in the same paper...





Unfortunately, Jonathan tends to be whiny and clingy around a bunch of people, at least at first, so this is how I looked for much of the beginning of the party:



Jonathan eventually warmed up to everyone and, after tiring himself out on gifts and sugar, went to bed. I, on the other hand, found myself to be in a much improved mood when my sister Laura, her husband and my parents surprised me with this. I think I am officially old now that a pink stand mixer makes me happy.

Christmas Eve goes pretty late, but once we were done, we went back to my parents. Jonathan set out cookies and milk for Santa and went happily to bed. The next morning there was, of course, more gift opening. Jonathan received this from my dad (the deer version, though, and not the bear!). I can tolerate this one but am truly concerned about how I will react one day when Jonathan wants to hang up a real deer head. Here is a picture of my mom's tree. It is not the best photo, but it is such a gorgeous tree that I am happy my MIL at least took this one:



After a delicious breakfast we came back to Louisville and had dinner Christmas evening with Bryan's family. It was back to work for Bryan and I the next day. With last weekend and then New Year festivities, I hardly feel like we had any time off at all! We are taking down the tree tonight, so hopefully that means a return to normal schedule!

Happy New Year's everyone!