Family Festivities

Like a lot of families I know, we rotate the holidays from year to year.  This year, we left two days before Christmas, and headed north.  Leaving at 7pm, definitely assured us no traffic, and happy sleepers.  We made it just in time for the last hustle and bustle of Christmas eve.  We had wanted to venture into the city and check out the tree, but some of us still had some last minute shopping to do.  Shopping, included the fact that I forgot to bring any pants for Cade to wear.  I guess something about Christmas, de-motivated me to take the clean laundry out of the dryer and actually put it into the suitcase.  So, off to Gap we went.  Where, they had a 40% off sale, and I got 5 pairs of pants for cade, and some underwear for Beckett, all for only $40.  The peace of the Christmas season was deeply felt when we attended my brother-in-law's church service.  The children of his congregation led the worship, and it was utterly amazing to hear the carols from the mouths of little children.  It would have made me tear, but I was too distracted with the yelps coming from Beckett's mouth, and the random "Luuke", as he watched his cousins on stage.  

When we ventured home, we put the boys to bed.  Even though Cade understands Santa, we didn't make a big fuss about him or the presents he would receive the next day.  Chad and I wanted him to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  This might have been even the greatest present to us, because both the boys slept in on Christmas morning.  Of course, Santa, mommy/daddy, and their grandparents treated them kindly. For Cade, Star wars seemed to be the theme of this Christmas. For Beckett, it was some super heros, some Lightning McQueen stuff, and a football (because he is obsessed).  They each got, what Cade refers to as "ipads".  But, they are learning touch screen tablets, which will be incredibly nice for all the travels we have planned for this coming year.

 Christmas morning photo op

Later in the day we went to Uncle Rob's house, where Sue and Rob kindly hosted the entirety of the Parker family (excluding those in Illinois and NC, whom were greatly missed).  Of course, it was a blast for all of us to catch up, eat, and play a little dance, dance revolution.  Cade certainly has some skills, none of which he got from me!

 Uncle Scott and little A

 Lots of hugs

 Admiring the tree

 Not one of my favorites..but the only one of chad and I all Christmas

 Little versions of their dads and best buds

 Beckett loves G man

 My niece and mother in law!

 Even Jake got into the festivities...

 Okay..I tried

Little A opening our presents

The 26th brought even more craziness, as we added Chad's cousins from Brooklyn to the mix. It was so great catching up with them, as some of them I hadn't seen since our wedding! Staying up late with no naps until almost 11 both nights for the boys, proved to be wonderful as they both slept almost three hours long on our way home the 27th.  As you can see we had a merry, merry Christmas!!

 Great big smiles, late at night!

Little E and Beckett

 A little person tv for the little people who were deliriously tired

 Uncle Reid and Beckett

Final Breakfast before heading home...