The Christmas Shuffle

This was our second year of celebrating Christmas morning at home, followed by the pilgramage north to eagerly waiting relatives. We're becoming pros. One of our greatest achievements this year was doing our holiday shopping on Black Friday up in PA. We wrapped all the gifts as soon as we bought them and had them waiting patiently in a closet until this weekend arrived. This meant less stuff to stuff into the car before heading north. Bailey was grateful.

The usual stops were made - first to Uncle Gene's, with Nana, Pop-Pop, Uncle Dave and Aunt De.

Then, to Uncle Dennis and Aunt Joan's house, where Alex and Ryan became fast frienemies (in the sweetest, most sincere terms possible).

The next morning we celebrated Christmas, part 2, with Grandma and Grandpa in the morning, followed by a trek up to Poppy and Grams. That trip is always special because the cousins all get to play. I don't think Ryan and Lindsey realize yet how lucky they are to have cousins the same age as them, but it sure takes a load off of us as parents.

Especially when there is a new cousin to love on.

Ryan and Grace are like two peas in a pod.

And though Lindsey and Evelyn are still feeling each other out, they did find one common connection - Evelyn likes to play mommy and Lindsey likes to eat :)

So although the Christmas Shuffle leaves all of us extremely exhausted, there is no better place to be than in the company of those you love. Regardless of how many trips in the car it takes.

Just like the movies

I wouldn't say I watched a ton of movies growing up, but I certainly hit all the classics of my time. And one of the greatest gifts those movies offered was the ability to delve into a fantasy world. I remember going to the crick and pretending I was on a Goonies adventure. Or reading a book under a blanket and wishing I'd get transported to Fantasia.

But you grow up and realize how unrealistic movies are. Flying dogs won't take you on an adventure to meet a young princess and secret tunnels and buried treasures aren't found by a group of misfits evading murderers.

There are moments, though, when it seems like real life - as mundane and ordinary as it can be - is just like the movies. My most recent moment? Christmas morning.

Each year, Christmas becomes more special because it becomes more magical for the kids. Each year, they get it more, which means their excitement level increases drastically. You know those scenes in Christmas movies where the kids tear into the wrapping paper, it goes flying and every gift is met with an "Ooo" or an "Aaah!" or, if you're really lucky, a loud, excited squeal of joy? We had that in our living room. And it was great.

After the masacre of the wrapping paper, it was on to test driving gifts, trying on clothes, assembling tree houses...you know, the usual.

Just like a good movie - 2011 was full of plot lines, all connected in some way, with suspense, humor and a little drama (thanks, of course, to Miss Lindsey). And ultimately, the ending was happy. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

This time last year, we were dealing with some uninvited house guests. This year? We were the uninvited house guests. Maybe uninvited is a harsh word. Self-invited?

Our friends have begun hosting a traditional seven fishes dinner every year - a typical Italian/Catholic (still not sure if it's one or the other - or both) tradition on Christmas Eve that includes lots of people, lots of wine and lots of seafood. It sounds delicious.  So when they were talking about the prep work this year, we casually mentioned how awesome it sounded and how much fun it might be to go (we're really bad at not being obvious). They took the bait (pun intended) and offered us a seat (or four) at the seven fishes dinner!

Beyond the food (which was as awesome as we thought it would be), it was so nice to be with "family" on Christmas Eve. When we made the decision to have Santa visit our house every year on Christmas, we knew that meant we'd be giving up the ability to visit with family the night before Christmas. Our friends in Delaware are like our extended family, so who better to kick off the holidays with than them!?

When we got home, before we said good night, Ryan and Lindsey made sure to have some cookies and milk for Santa and a big bowl of cabbage and carrots for the reindeer.

And now...we sleep and wait...and digest.

Crafty Christmas

We're getting closer and closer to Christmas, which means it's crunch time for gift getting, house decorating and all things holiday related. Our weekends, thankfully, are low key right now, which frees up time to get a little crafty.

Nate has taken the reigns this year, helping the kids glue gumdrops and candy-coated chocolates to slabs of gingerbread with the help of sticky, sweet icing. He is doing a great job walking the fine line of letting them slip an M&M here, a lick of frosting there, while making sure we're not sharing germs with others who might indulge in our crafty efforts.

See the star on the back of our house? That was my singular contribution to the cause. Please, hold your applause.

Inspired by our sugary piece of holiday real estate, Nate and the kids later tackled some cookie-in-a-jar treats to share with neighbors and friends. Word on the street is these jars contain the ingredients for Santa's favorite cookie. We'll find out in a few more days!

Instant Gratification

It's not always obvious when you're growing up, but eventually you come to realize that some of the really cool things you did as a kid were long-standing, family traditions. Some, more unique to your family than others, but all of them a part of the wonder of childhood you can't fully appreciate until your an adult.

Then, when you have kids of your own, you learn to not only develop a deeper appreciation for the actual traditions, but for your parents, who painstakingly spent endless hours prepping things, coaxing your participation, teaching you the ropes, packing things away for next year, saving mementos and scouring magazine for new ideas, in order to give you, the child, a moment in time that you will, hopefully, remember and cherish.

It's a lot of work, these traditions.

And while it may take kids years to fully appreciate it all, parents get instant gratification. And I, dear friends, am a big fan of instant gratification.

So maybe that explains (in part) my unending thirst for the holiday season. I drink up this time of year like a lost, desert wanderer.  Because there is unexplainable magic in seeing excitement grow in the eyes of your child.

Or watching them proudly roll out the dough for Aunt Sherry's homemade Thanksgiving noodles.

Or catching the "power of the tongue" as they roll up crescent rolls. 

Or hearing Lindsey ask for "more, more" after Daddy squirts whipped cream in her mouth.

Or anticipating our annual visit from Finnegan - that silly, little elf.

Or finally having a great reason for the kids to eat their breakfast in the morning.

Or visiting with real, living, breathing reindeer.

Or picking out the perfect tree.

Or admiring a big brother teach his little sister how to hang ornaments on the perfect tree.

'Tis the season for traditions.