Christmas 2011

Our first Christmas as a family of 6 was splendid.  Lots of rest, relaxation, sleep, and laziness (Michael "I sleep until 11 a.m. each day" suggested the last one).  Mom spent three days with us, full of a 1000-piece puzzle, good food, and basic hanging out.  We also spent a day with Steven's family (Zoe and Niki were thrilled to explore all the nooks and crannies at Aunt Angie's and play with their 2 dogs). 
 Matthew survived his first semester at GC and is still smiling (thank goodness; that first semester can be so tough).  This year was the first year E and M created the Christmas village without any parental supervision (only one figure was beheaded, and I think that was actually Steven's fault).  E and M had lots of sleepovers and get-togethers with friends (read: Karyn made a lot of pancakes over the holidays).

Zoe and Niki continue to enrich our lives.  They loved being out of their crates all day long while everyone was on vacation and only ate 5 of the Christmas decorations.  Not bad for two puppies' first Christmas.  Mom has been slow to warm up to the puppies, but we were proud of her when she progressed to letting Zoe on her lap.  Unfortunately, Zoe thanked Grandma by licking Grandma's mouth, which made Grandma shriek. 

Thank you to everyone who sent the children gifts.  Michael loves the mini football helmets (especially when he beats me at the apparently-you-get-to-make-the-rules-up-as-you-go game we play) and the legos (who knew 1000 tiny seemingly random plastic pieces could form such coherent structures?).  Elizabeth will need thumb surgery within a year if she continues texting and game-playing on her new ipod touch at the same rate.  She was also excited to finally get the jewelry and bag she selected at a fair trade market on campus a couple of months ago.  It really was such a happy Christmas, although we missed being with my siblings and their families and hope that changes next year.