There are very few things in life that refresh my soul like time spent with family. When I first moved to Raleigh, it was hard for me to make friends because I would head to Mama and Daddy's house every chance I got! While I've found some balance with that, I am still very fond of pointing my car east and filling my belly with my mama's cooking.
Christmas is no exception.
Jeramie and I have now spent eight Christmases together and, until this year, have never celebrated in our own house. We each love going home, and I feel so blessed that we love our respective in-laws' homes just as much!
With Ethan being almost four (FOUR!), though, we felt like it was time to start some traditions of our own. For the first time in seven years, I slept in my own bed Christmas Eve! It was such a sweet time for the three of us, and I look forward to the Christmas mornings to come.
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| Christmas morning, 2012 |
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| For an entire month, Ethan only asked for one thing. He got it, and this reaction brought tears to my eyes. |
We spent Saturday through Monday at my parents' house, where we had our annual oyster roast. That specific tradition always makes me think of
Michael, but this year it elicited smiles instead of tears. It was also fun celebrating with my sister and her
husband (I say it every chance I get). Good times all around!
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| Relaxing between gifts |
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| Ethan was sick most of the weekend, but you'd never know it based on his smile and overall level of excitement! |
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| A riveting game of Hungry Hungry Hippos |
On Tuesday afternoon, we headed to Jeramie's parents' house and celebrated with his mom, dad, grandma, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew - whew! I loved getting the chance to snuggle with sweet baby Johnny, and Ethan expressed his new-found love for "stashews" (pistachios). The guys played their annual poker game and I'm
happy sad to say the trophy won't be living on our mantle for 2013.
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| Being a mama AND an auntie is kind of like having your cake and eating it too. |
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| "I don't know what it could be..." - we must have heard that 20 times! |
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| They're not called stockings for nothin'. |
This year, I particularly loved how involved Ethan became with the story of Jesus' birth. I tried to get a video of him telling it - because hearing him talk about how the angel
"disappeared" to the shepherds is about the cutest thing I've heard - but he wasn't crazy about the idea. Just take my word for it - it was precious
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We are blessed, indeed, and I hope your days were just as merry!
3 comments:
Wonderful memories! I think it is so important to start your own traditions for your kids like Christmas mornings. I was determined to do it when we had Evan and only missed his first Christmas at home because my mom's family wanted to get together one last time after my grandmother died. We also make special trips to see both our families too, but Christmas morning is just for us. I also love that Ethan was so excited to receive that one special gift. This is a precious stage! Glad you all had a very merry Christmas!
Great post and pictures! So happy you guys had a great Christmas! Blessing to you all for a wonderful 2013! Hugs!!
Catching up on your blog... and I am loving all of the great pictures along with the special words that always seem to come along with the pictures.
It was such a wonderful Christmas.. Ethan was so. so. so much fun!
Love you guys forever..
Grandma A.
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