Santa Came to Charleston

There is so much build-up to Christmas, and then it happens in just one magical day. We made a paper chain. We had an advent calendar and an elf that visited us every day. We made popcorn for our neighbors, lit luminaries on our street, and rolled sausage and cheese balls to devour on Christmas morning. The children brought home approximately 100 pieces (each) of Christmas-themed preschool art, most of it covered with glitter.And then the big day arrived.

Here they are on Christmas morning, waiting to see if Santa came.

One is very tired, and the other doesn't quite know what she's waiting for, but she always manages to have a good time. And he did come!

 Among other things, he brought a remote control car for Foard and a Cinderella castle for Stella. Now she asks all the time to watch "C-Bella" and it has become my her new favorite movie.

To continue the celebration, we went to the cabin after Christmas and got in plenty more Mimi time and some good cousin time too, with Elk and Eve.

 Can you tell that Stella loves her? And who wouldn't.

Stella got to wear her Christmas dress only twice, so I'm awfully glad I got some pictures. Isn't she lovely?

And so that my sweet boy does not get left out, I'll post this photo of an amazing hike we did together on New Years Eve at the cabin.

He has really grown up lately, and I'm so proud of him. 

It took a couple of weeks after Christmas to readjust, but now that we are it is NICE to be back in the sweet, comfortable, predictable routine. Here's to 2013 and all it will bring!

It Was All a Blur

It was all a blur of cookies and lights and family and presents and lots and lots of toys. Our boy waited for Santa for the very first time, leaving cookies and milk for him. In the morning he rushed there first (after inspecting his toys, of course) to see if they'd been eaten. And they had!

Rounding the corner...

What he discovered was a brand new workbench with tools that make noises and 100 nuts and bolts for his sister to eat. His sister had clothes, and a doll, and of course some brand-new pacis in her stocking. Can you believe Santa even came to see the grown-ups?

How many years can I get away with putting them in matching Christmas pajamas? Many, many I hope. Foard has been working on projects all over the house since he got his new workbench.

One of the best things about Christmas is new books. Here they are reading with their daddy (in my mom's glasses. what?)

And reading with Mimi. This is our new favorite book! Mo Willems is a genius, if you didn't know.

 I hope it was a Merry Christmas for everyone!

We are anticipating...

December, I hoped that you would take it slow this year...so that we could settle in and bake cookies, celebrate advent, hang wreaths, drink hot chocolate, maybe even relax a little.

First we moved, then we unpacked, then we all got sick. December is whirling by and we are very slow in our preparations. But thankfully Christmas will come whether or not we are prepared, and it will be magical because of these little ones.