Christmas Break

It has been a lovely Christmas break. Ron has been off the entire time the kids and I have been home, but he has to go back to work tomorrow. We go back on Thursday. I always look forward to this time. It's always full of family time and special moments. It's like the busy-ness of every day life suddenly stops for a few short days and we get to focus on what's most important - just being together. And most everyone I know is doing the exact same thing.  It's lovely.

So, what have we been up to? Well, there's been a lot of sleeping in. That contributes to staying up late. It's a vicious cycle, really, but for 2 weeks...who cares?! It's been too cold to go outside, so we've been watching movies, playing games, reading, etc. I guess I can't really account for every second of the past two weeks - probably because I lost track of the days at some point. That's a pretty lovely feeling, too.

As usual, we spent Christmas Eve with my mom, Jack, & brother. We enjoyed the Christmas Eve service at church together, followed by dinner out and then time together at home. Uncle Ron and Danielle wore their light-up Christmas sweaters and looked pretty awesome.

We had a nice, quiet Christmas day. It always goes too quickly, though. You spend weeks planning, purchasing, and wrapping, and then it's all over in a matter of hours. It does last a little longer now that the kids are older, but that's just the way Christmas is.

Watching The Polar Express on Christmas Eve.



This was in Tyler's stocking. He said it tasted like hair. Maybe not, but he did say it was not good. It was meant more for a laugh, anyway.

Danielle said hers was good. Apparently unicorn farts have a cherry flavor.

We enjoyed lunch with my dad and Patty but missed getting to see the rest of the family. Danielle spent time with friends. Tyler tried to win records for spending the most days in pajamas, but I gave him a good run for his money. It was a great way to usher out 2017. 

I know a lot of people had a rough 2017. Politics, health concerns, job uncertainty, losing loved ones - there were a lot of big issues that many people we know struggled with. We were fortunate enough to end 2017 in much the same way that we started it - happy, healthy, warm, well fed, together, and loved. I have high hopes for 2018.