Chrismas Love, Numero Dos

Looking back on the last week of December makes me a bit weepy and causes some self pity.  I'm just being honest.  We had such a perfect week of holiday cheer and all that warm and fuzzy stuff that comes with it.  Nana and Papa made all of us happy.  They played, played, played with the kids.  Puzzles, games, McDonalds and mini golf dates, book reading, present opening, work sheets, wrestling, iPad playing, elfing yourself, movie watching....the little people didn't know what hit them when N&P's plane hit the sky.  Clearly, Mom and Dad don't quite make the "super fun" cut.  There's just too much laundry and crumb filled floors to be dealt with.   

 

My mom and I fit in a couple "mom daughter" dates, which was glorious.  We did lunches, grocery shopping and non-grocery shopping (the best kind).  I have a passion for day after Christmas shopping.  The deals are bind blowing and bargains make me giggle, inside and out.  Makes for a good "me" day.  Mom and Dad gifted us with a new game, Ticket to Ride, which turned out to be our night time entertainment.  Have you played this engrossing, challenging, yet totally feasible European adventure?  You should.  You'll like. We've already turned many a friend onto it.

 

It was amazing to put agendas aside, log off of Facebook and email, NOT make plans and just "be."  Our last post of Christmas love will come soon.  In the meantime, enjoy.          

 

 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a birthday party for the little babe, Jesus.  Tony's Meats provided the decadence and we all provided the vocals. 

 

On Christmas Eve, we headed over to Bruce and Barb's for much appreciated Jansen/Syers time.  We ate till out hearts content, sang carols (my favorite time), got a visit from Santa and peered out the windows as the snow started to fall.  Like magic. 

Highlight of the winter...we had our fireplace inspected after 4 years of neighborhood rumors that it was built faulty and would burn our house down.  We were told it was just fine, thus the roaring fire you see.  Makes my heart happy. 

How cute are these two?  She adores her Papa and calls him on her play phone daily.  Granted, that's all she says is "Hi, me phone," but it's the thought that counts. 

My mom is the master of finding the very coolest books.  Educational and engaging.

We went all out for Dude this year and bought him...wait for it....his VERY OWN HAND WEIGHTS.  For his desire for big, huge muscles.  He uses them in his room every day.  Watch out ladies.  By the time he's 55, you might just see that 6 pack forming.

Sweet and sassy Squirt got a sassy robe and a bunch of darling additions to her wardrobe.

Back to Christmas Eve....sorry, these photos are hardly in any sort of sequential order.  Just roll with it. 

"The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head."  Dude's head laying was much more dramatic than Brady's. 

 

Santa brings each kid a gift.  Squirt got a book, which Opa gladly read with her.  Look at that cheek below....

Squirt's very first slow dance...good choice of partner girl.  That Cohen is quite the stud muffin.

Last, but not least, our 11 year running besties.  And Wessums is even smiling.  Oh how far we've all come.