Christmas

I’ve got to be honest: Christmas wiped me out. I’m still recovering. My house is still recovering. My body and sleep schedule are still recovering. But our hearts are full of memories and good times spent with family. This year was not my best picture taking effort, but what can you do with a four month old?

Our first “Christmas” we celebrated on the 23rd with just the five of us. It was so special. This was the first year we’ve done present opening without an extended family, and I think it’s a tradition we’ll continue. It was intimate and very enjoyable. We went downtown for a special lunch and then came home and smoked ribs for our special dinner. It was great family bonding…

New slippers and shirts.

Josh was as sweet as ever. Here’s my “picture helper” in view too. Seth and Sam were a bit traumatized that we didn’t buy Josh anything for Christmas. We told them that he didn’t know any better.

Here’s the boys with me and the jean quilts I made them. The verdict is still out whether or not they’re going to use them. I’m not offended, my boys are quite the creatures of habit. I just enjoyed making them something in a year that has been so focused on another baby.

Next we celebrated with the Morris’. We opened gifts just us, then headed to Aunt Joann’s for Christmas Eve dinner (Luscombe side), and then to Aunt Tani’s for Christmas day dinner (Morris side). I’ll be honest: by the drive home on Christmas night, we were exhausted…Seth and Sam still managed to talk the whole way home.

Ben is so handsome in the picture.

This photo is HILARIOUS. It’s now labeled on facebook as “Grandma’s first selfie”

Our only family picture of the season. Who allows their kids to wear Car’s shirts on Christmas day? I figured it was a victory to get them to wear jeans instead of sweats. I’m definitely turning into a boys mom!

The day after Christmas my parents drove up. It was tough this year, as it was the first year my sister and I didn’t get to celebrate together (they moved to Medford this year). We really missed getting all the Ruda’s together, but were grateful we had just had Thanksgiving in Sunriver. We enjoyed a calm, quiet Christmas with my parents. Ben and I even snuck in a date night and had a wonderful dinner at the Portland City Grill overlooking the city and went to watch the Hobbit. Having Grandparents babysit is the best!

 

My mom made these travel notebooks for the boys. Aren’t they amazing? They are filled with art supplies and things to keep them busy on the road. She even burned them cds of their favorite Disney songs and various Winnie the Pooh stories! These are going to be make road trips so delightful! Seth and Sam’s most used item so far: the calculator. They have been typing in numbers all day asking what each one is; silly boys!

Wow, Seth, you continue to astound me with your picture taking skills. Perhaps you were just making the face of how tired I felt once all the festivities were finished. Christmas with kids is very magical, but also VERY tiring!