Christmas 2013

Well, if I don't post about Christmas now, I just might miss it altogether.  So here goes!

Christmas this past year was wonderful.  Miles and Vivienne were old enough to be excited about our traditions (like our advent activity calendar and the Elf on the Shelf) and Santa Claus.  They were also very excited about their presents.  And they showed some recognition that this day is actually about celebrating Jesus' birthday, which is a step in the right direction.

There were so many activities in December leading up to Christmas - birthday parties and Christmas parties and cookies and decorating gingerbread houses and a huge assortment of Christmas crafts and goodies.  This year, more than ever, we could really participate in these things fully.  Miles and Vivienne are at such a fun age, and it's so great to experience holidays with them each year as they grow.

This year, our van donned a proper pair of reindeer antlers and a Rudolph nose.  Believe it or not, Jason took the kids to something like 4 stores trying to find these one particular Daddy Day (a Saturday when I was off doing my own thing).  It's hard to see in this photo, but the van was very merry all December (until I rolled down a window so the kids could hear a train and we lost an antler... then it was only half-merry, which maybe is actually kind of sad).

On Christmas Eve, we went to church with Grandma and Grandad.  After that we came home for dinner at our house (made by Grandma - thanks for the delicious dinner and leftovers!).  Then we did baths and bedtime (and put cookies out for Santa) with the kids and headed back to church to help clean up after the Christmas services.  When we got home, we put out all the unwrapped gifts and hit the sack.

In the morning, Grandma and Grandad sneaked into the house before the kids woke up.  As soon as Miles and Vivienne saw "7:00" on their clock, they came running out of their room.  They were very excited to see all the gifts, and quickly dove into the fun.  The big gifts this year were a bike for each of them (with training wheels).  We all bundled up so that the kids could give their bikes a spin.  Miles took to it quite quickly and rides very well already, pedaling all over our cul-de-sac and steering very well.  Vivienne is more hesitant.  They have both taken many, many spills and Miles seems to rebound from them more quickly than his sister.

Mid-morning, we were joined by our dear friends, Brad and Melissa, and Melissa's mother, Linda.  They served breakfast at the Durham Rescue Mission and then came to our house for brunch.  It was great fun to spend time with them and enjoy good food and coffee and great conversation. 

Miles also got another stomp rocket.  This apparently is the most entertaining toy in the world.  He will literally launch these rockets for hours on end if we don't stop him.

And Vivienne is still very eager to put on her apron and chef hat and help me in the kitchen.

We love having Jason home from Christmas Eve through New Year's.  He gets the entire week off without having to take extra vacation, which is wonderful.  We pack those days with trips to the Life + Science Museum in Durham and Marbles and Pullen Park.  It's a great chance to show Daddy all of our most fun spots.

Riding the train at Pullen Park

Christmas was a wonderful time to reflect on all that we are grateful for.  We are so blessed.  2013 has been quite a year! Bring on 2014!