Merry Christmas! ...and a HAPPY New Year

Okay lets be honest. I am writing one phrase then tending to a child so my train of thought is a little choppy. (See "chirstmas" typo in previous post title).   I want to at least attempt to capture our first Christmas as a family of 5.

Leading up to Christmas, Abe gifted us with lots of smiles! (Reminds me of his big brother's first Christmas gifts to us!) Van and Jean-Margaret entertained us with many Christmas dance parties.

We had a visit with Santa (Jean-Margaret was not interested).

 Van reinforced to Santa what he has been telling Larry (our elf) all season: I need a double guitar, an electric guitar, a microphone...etc.


To which Santa replied: "Wow, who is so musical in your family?"

Van said: "My uncle...Don Henley."


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Christmas Eve we went to the bell service (we arrived about 10 minutes before it was over! Better late than never!) then to G-Mommys for delicious dinner and presents...AND A DRUM SET!

Our Christmas started out pretty well...lots of fun toys and full bellies...

How come I cannot fly?

Then we piled into the Volvo wagon to head towards Granny Rhombus's for some Christmas day brunch.
About 2/3rds of the drive to her house we hear an awful sound...and realized Jean-Margaret was getting very very sick in the back seat. We pulled over, stripped her down in a parking lot, and I held her in the front seat bundled in my coat all the way back home.  I'll insert a cute picture here:

Since having sick children is inevitable...the next day we decided more vehicle space would do us well...

Despite the flu, Miss Priss bundled up in her new robe and high heels.

Time to upgrade!

Merry Christmas, mom!

My favorite post-Christmas stories come courtesy of Van. When he saw his Christmas loot, his first comment was: "We should ask the Easter bunny for the double guitar since Santa forgot."

The next morning he saw Evans unloading box after box into the dump. These boxes just happened to be an empty guitar box, an empty microphone box...etc. Van (who misses nothing) exclaims: "Mom!? Why does daddy have my guitar box? Look--there is the microphone box!!??"

Mom, sleep deprived...thinking on a whim... "Santa must have put all of his trash in the back of daddy's truck!!" Crazy Santa.

 This Christmas taught us how VERY important good health is, especially with a big family. It is by far my favorite gift of all--to have our family back to good health in time for the new year. Which, in keeping with our tradition of posting favorite photos from the year, I'll just sum it up with my one favorite photo from this year:

Our family is complete. And everyone is here. In one place. And healthy. Deep breath. Thank you God!

Here's to a healthy, fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!