A Very Merry Christmas

Today, we are slowly returning to reality after a truly lovely Christmas. 

Since it was the first Christmas since Nana moved down here, we started our celebrations a bit before Christmas. Aunt Shannon and Uncle Jeff flew down, and the kids could not have been more thrilled. They are always excited to see them, but this Christmas they started a new tradition: the girls go shopping and the boys go jumping. Issa loved the one-on-one time with Aunt Shannon, and I don't think she's taken her new boots off unless it's to sleep! Evan loved going to the trampoline park with Jeff, and I think they have almost recovered. 

Issa had to do a wardrobe change for Christmas at Nana's:

 We had a lovely evening together, and then we all drove to Napoleon on the 23rd! We spent Christmas Eve eating appetizers and just enjoying being together before all the crazy of Christmas day.

Santa still came to 440 since Tyler was kind enough to let us stay there:

 We loved hanging out at his house. He's made some really gorgeous updates, and it was humorous to cook in a kitchen I used to know so well. The whole family had an ugly sweater Christmas, and the kids were very proud of their selections:

 The stockings were opened and Santa had delivered Evan's Chromebook with a subscription to Tynker:

 And Issa's Polaroid:

 After enjoying their gifts for a bit, we headed across the street to the Slights. It was probably the most fun Christmas morning we've had in a while. Shannon and Becca set up a photo booth to catch all the ugly sweater goodness, and the littles were happy to try it out:

 And we managed to get a picture of the whole crew:

 The traditional trio picture:

 My crazy boys:

 Please note Brad won the ugly sweater contest!

Our happy family:

 And the man of my dreams:

And all of those pictures are courtesy of my sister, because I fail at pictures! I took none the rest of the week, which is sad.

On the 26th, we drove to Grandma Pat's. We spent the day shopping and baking cookies. We also got to see all the cousins, and I realized my nephew is grown. He is planning on becoming a teacher, and he is just amazing.

The 27th, we drove on to Papa Don's, where we spent the day resting and cooking. We colored and generally just enjoyed being together.

We drove home on the 28th, and spent the rest of vacation settling back in! The kids rooms are reorganized, and we are ready to take on 2018!