Goodness. Life with Claire and Lily.
We got into town on the Tuesday before Christmas because of all the festivities. Oh, the festivities, guys! So much fun to be had. Rachael was already in town (from Knoxville), and Tim got in on Wednesday (from Minnesota), so things were kickin' before too long.
Snuggles with Ray Ray
Kisses!
Brad, being the diligent soul that he is, actually went up to the library at ETSU and put in some pretty serious hours of work all day Wednesday and both mornings on Thursday and Friday. Go, Brad! The girls got in some really good play time, and Barbara and I got our Christmas puzzle (2000 pieces, y'all!) up and running. By "Christmas puzzle," I don't mean a Christmas-themed puzzle; we do a puzzle every year at Christmas-ish time. So fun.
Thursday night kicked off our evening festivities with the annual "7" party; Brad's dad, aunts, and their first cousins (there are 7 of them...thus, the "7" party) gather every Christmas for a fun catch-up. Pizza, wings, cake, gifts, and a slideshow. The past few years have added several babies to the crew, so it gets more and more fun every time. Brad, the girls, and I could only stay for a little while, as my children are heavily scheduled and really do best when they keep to their sleep routines, but we had fun seeing family that we rarely get to see (and Claire enjoyed pizza for supper).
Gifts for the littles at the 7 party
Claire was having the best time!
Friday night was actually Christmas Eve Eve, but we went to the Christmas Eve service at church. It really helped to have the option of a Christmas Eve Eve service, given all of the family events that were scheduled. The format was a little different this year than in previous years; there was actually a full-length sermon, which was a little surprising and tricky, since we had both of the girls in the service with us. But, they did a FANTASTIC job. We were so proud of them.
Because Christmas Day was on Sunday and we would be going to church, we did our "Christmas morning" on Christmas Eve morning, taking away the stress of trying to do it and church on the same day. It worked out so well! We got up, did breakfast, and exchanged gifts like champs. Claire and Lily both had a blast, and we were given such thoughtful and generous gifts. Some favorites were Claire's alphabet floor puzzle (which she take SO seriously), Lily's fun stuffed hippo, Brad's Ludovico Einaudi sheet music, and my glass snapware container set (that's right- I was pumped).
Claire requested to wear her "beautiful dress" for Christmas morning. Thanks, Nana!
Christmas sweet rolls for breakfast!
Enjoying Bill and Barbara's new couch. It sits so many of us!
Claire was trying so hard to be patient in waiting on her stocking.
Lily and Gran
Wearing her Lightening McQueen house shoes and listening to Uncle Tim read the Christmas Otis the Tractor book. We love the Otis books.
Rachael planned to pay for Tim some new boots (hello, he lives in Minnesota), so she wrapped up Claire's boots as a stand-in. It was hilarious.
Alphabet mat!
Fun hippo!
Grandpa and Ray Ray
Gran and Aunt Sue
Christmas Eve afternoon, Brad and I spent some time putting the finishing touches on the Home Alone game for the Boswell family Christmas Eve party, while everyone else sat down for one final viewing/study session. We partied it up later that evening. More on that here.
Christmas day, both of the girls were under the weather, so I ended up staying home with them while everyone else went to church. This was a good decision, although it felt a little strange. Both girls needed some rest and down time, so that's what we did. Then, we settled in for a big, fancy Christmas lunch...which both girls had to leave early because they needed yet more rest (ahem...naps). Bless it.
The turkey!
The boys cleaning up.
Even though we ended up not going to church, we had already gotten dressed, so I left them in their pretty dresses. "Them" = Lily and Claire, not Lily and Madeline.
We squeezed in several more activities, like Christmas Day ham sandwiches with the rest of the extended family, date night, double date night with friends, building a gingerbread house with Takia, puzzling on the 2000 piece-er, eating too much fudge...you know. Normal things. Very fun and restful.
The Fun Box!
Kitchen floor shenanigans
Hanging with Uncle Tim.
Laughing with Aunt Jenny (wearing the jammies from Jenny and Chris)
Playing in the kitchen floor.
Gingerbread-ing with Takia! He's a good sport.
Early morning snugs with Daddy.
We had a great visit and thoroughly enjoyed time with our family, celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Our Christmas morning greetings (belatedly) to you all!
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