Christmas 2009

We had a nice, slow-paced Christmas this year, since we've finally learned how to manage our time and spread out our visits among the families. We had Christmas Eve with my family at Andrea & Billy's (pictures with the brown walls), after which the boys went to see Avatar with Eric while I went to midnight mass at a local church for the candlelight service. We did Christmas morning here (blue walls), Christmas afternoon at Eric's family's (white walls), and then down to Breckinridge County to drop off the boys and spend a little time at home.
Our friends, the Schmidts, were here for one night after Christmas, visiting from North Carolina. We had a great time of fellowship, and Kaela and Ben are begging for their boys to come back & play some more. Now! :) The pictures in the snow were of Kaela and Ben plus their two boys, Calvin and Teddy. They all look alike with their hats and mittens on! :) I also got to spend a few hours this week with the OPCs (girlfriends), and had a paper grading/lesson planning party with the 5th grade team which was way more fun than it should have been, and was also more productive than putting it off til Sunday night before returning to work on Monday.
We still have an overnight visit to my grandmother's and New Year's Eve things planned this week, but the pace is slow this vacation, compared to our usual lives. I am grateful for that!!!!!!!

Funny aside--Kaela just walked in and informed me that she will be spending the afternoon with a cup of coffee (so would I please brew her some?) and a Nancy Drew book. When did she turn 14 years old? Ben was on her heels, and asked, "Hey, Mom? Have you ever had triplets?" :)
Um, no. I would have remembered that, right?
I love, love, love these days with them, and am so incredibly grateful for our health and the gifts of family and friends.