Merry and bright, part 2

Christmas Morning.

Two things:

1.  Nat and I were the first ones up.  Sat and had coffee together in a quiet house.  Not sure if this means we are doing something very right as parents, or very wrong.

2.  After opening one tree present each, the kids happily played with said presents for a good 15 minutes.  Next year, we should stop at one.

But this year, we didn't.  There was an overabundance of gifts and excitement and we had two very fried children by noon.

And you know, I wouldn't have it any other way.

A couple of the favorite gifts-- Ivy's creepy monkey, and the Boogie Board drawing board.

A quiet afternoon (part of which was spent driving to Auburn, again, for "C" batteries for Ivy's creepy monkey) and then off to Christmas dinner.   Eleven adults, eleven children, a house full of merry and a yummy dinner.   So grateful to be a part of this family.

A quiet 26th, with half-price shopping at Target (one of our proudest traditions) and visiting in Ithaca, and one more family dinner and a gift exchange with the cousins.... and like that, in a wink, Christmas had come and gone and we were heading home.  A treasure of a week.

Some other moments from the trip:

A snowy and cold Christmas visit to Long Point.

Corydon and Mia had a competition to see who could be most in the way.  At all times.  Life with dogs:  priceless.

Note the creepy monkey.  Its eyes follow you.

Look!  MORE presents!

We capped off the trip with a quick visit to the Rink at Wade Oval once we got home (but before we even went to the house) so our boy could try his new ice skates.

May god bless you and send you a happy new year, friends!