Christmas Week 2023

What a wonderful week we've had! I will try to be light on words, as this post will be extra heavy in pictures and likely captions as well. We spent Christmas Eve at Jared's parents' home. Jared's cousin Rachel and her kids came too--it was so fun to have "cousins" the same ages as Jack and Alice for them to play with. We had pork burrito bowls, reenacted the nativity, got pjs, and played a few games. We got home late, but still took time to bake some cookies for Santa before bed. I stayed up late typing down notes of what worked well for our family this holiday season, and what could be tweaked to make the holidays even better next year. Mostly simple things like, "I made a big triple batch of cookie dough at the beginning of the month and stored it in balls in the freezer. Made for an easy dessert when visitors stopped by and when we needed cookies FAST on Christmas Eve." 

Christmas morning was magic! I am so grateful I married someone who truly loves making Christmas magic. If it were up to me alone I would probably lean too hard on keeping it simple and trying not to spoil. Jared loves a grand presentation and making magic happen. Luckily we both see the wisdom in each of these sides and we balance each other well around the holidays and also birthdays. Santa brought Jack his first Hot Wheel tracks (big hit), a basket of plush babies for Alice, and a car rooftop cargo carrier for me and Jared. We have loved getting a big combined gift each Christmas since moving to Washington. Makes for less small things to come up with and we can get something more expensive that we normally wouldn't. Last year it was supplies to make our built-ins; the year before it was our Frame TV. 

Jared's parents came up in the evening on Christmas Day and we opened our gifts from them. Then my parents flew in the next morning and we opened presents from them. Both sets of grandparents were very generous with their Christmas gifts--wow! Thank you, thank you. We feel so lucky to have family who love us and want to spend time together. It was wonderful to spend the lazy week between Christmas and New Year's with family. Seriously a great time for guests. Our niece Mae came to visit from North Carolina as well. Jared was lucky to have some days off from work, so we had lots of good times. We even took a ferry to San Juan Island with my parents for a day trip. Turns out Alice doesn't nap well on-the-go anymore. Now we know! Now for a jumble of pictures in no particular order:

^^Pizza party and Hues and Cues--a great party game for a big group!

^^Christmas morning, before heading downstairs!

^^Christmas morning cereal tradish! Santa must have gotten an early start finding Christmas cereals this year. It was our first time ever getting seasonal cereals. Didn't even know that existed. Next year I hope he skips the Gingerbread Toast Crunch, but the rest can stay.

^^Alice got a baby roller coaster from Grandma and Grandpa Lambert! She mostly uses it as a slide but it has been a hit.

^^Another game from the Grandparents: Klask. Lots of fun!

^^Nintendo Switch from Grandma and Grandpa Haines! Also a big hit.

^^Jared can get Alice relaxed like no one else can. Very cute. 

^^On our way to Friday Harbor!

^^Seemed like a great idea to explore San Juan Island in the winter since it's mostly driving or sitting on a ferry instead of out in the elements. Forgot to factor in the sun setting at 4:00 since we're so far North though. Luckily we got to see everything we wanted before it was too dark.

^^Quality post-Christmas hangouts.

^^Jared got a bike trailer for his parents and it is his Dad Dream come true to cart the kids around our neighborhood in it. Jack won't fit much longer so I'm glad he got one this year.

^^Alice started walking two days after Christmas with both sets of grandparents and many aunts and uncles present! When Jack was a baby he also started walking when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa. That social motivation runs deep.