Christmas Vacation

It was a hard decision not to travel for Christmas this year, and there were some sad moments, but I think it was the right choice for our family.  We've had a really peaceful week and a half, with a lot of low-key family time.  We did a few cleaning projects and both worked from home a bit, but mostly focused on spending time with the kids, taking long walks, and reading by the Christmas tree.  Some highlights (links are to videos)...

(First few things are from before break:)

Fun Christmas dinner party!  So much laughter...

Christmas pageant at church.  Adara was super shy about it this year; refusing her angel dress during rehearsal, and bailing halfway down the steps during the actual play.  Sweet girl was also a little sick.  That afternoon our community group did some Christmas caroling at a local nursing home.

22nd

There was some dancing at breakfast on the last day of school, and the girls were so excited to host all their friends from community group for a kids Christmas party.  Adara carefully wrote out every name that afternoon - I am really impressed by how far she's come with her letters in the past month! We had 14 kids here for pizza, cookie decorating, and a Christmas movie... there was some chaos, but a lot of fun, and sweet moments of seeing how well the kids care for each other.

23rd 

Brunch at the Cranes.  The only picture I took:

Christmas Eve

I took the kids to Westford for a half day to be with their cousins.  They had fun exchanging gifts and played so well together, it was hard to leave!  We got home in time for a quick change and out to the CRC Christmas Eve service at a sweet old Vermont chapel and Chinese food takeout for dinner with the Eshbaughs. 

 

Christmas Day

A fun morning at home opening gifts, and doing lots of art!  We had monte cristos for breakfast, walked to the school playground to play, and stopped by the Willeman's Christmas brunch.

Emily's first gift that she made and wrapped (at school) without mom or dad's help.  It was a calendar she was very proud of and did a great job on!

 

27th

After church, we drove to MA for a Christmas Open House at Uncle Jim's and dinner with my parents, Nick & Grammy.  Another short but sweet time together.

28th

SNOW!  Finally!  Emily was ecstatic and her enthusiasm spread to the younger two.  Poor Alden could barely walk in all his gear, and after numerous faceplants decided this was his best bet.

 

30th

Date night/art night.  A friend of Alasdair's who is an elementary school art teacher offered to watch the kids so we could go out, and brought the kids a few fun art projects to do.  The girls were super excited to do art with "a real artist" and had a blast, and even Alden got to paint.

 

New Years Eve

We spent the morning at the aquatic center with a bunch of friends, and that night had dinner with the Achmoodys & Engerts.  My girls had so much fun playing all kinds of boy games, and I'm so grateful for these friends who are raising boys who I love for my girls to be around and for Alden to look up to.  We let them stay up late, which means we were still home and reading by the tree by 9pm. :)

 

January 1st

Four Aces for breakfast!

 

Today

Adara had her first ski lesson!  It brings me so much joy to introduce my girls to skiing. :)  And I love being at the tiny local mountain, chatting with friends while the kids slide around.