Happy Holidays!

Well, my favorite time of the year (not counting my favorite season of autumn) has come and gone faster than the last. How does time manage to do that? Get away, that is. Each Christmas break home with my boys passes faster than the one prior. We were fortunate, this year, that Nolan's school break was the exact same as ours.

We kicked off the holiday season by going to Grandma & Grandpa Curry's house to celebrate Christmas. The boys enjoyed spending time with their cousins that they sadly do not get to see too often. You would never tell though...they pick up like no time has gone by at all, and I love it. They are all very close in age and it made for a full house. Full of laughter and friendship and love. For that, I'm so happy because my cousins have played a major role in my life (young and now) and I truly view them as sisters.

"Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends."

 

 

Santa Claus' helper (as Nolan later told Brian and I...because he said he knew that wasn't the real one; we didn't doubt for a minute that he would pick up on this regardless of the real beard...he's a very observant child) came by and handed out gifts and smiles. Let me tell you how annoying lovely the music of about six train whistles is! Ha! Nolan continues to call his the "Polar Express Whistle." Nolan was also very happy that he received Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We came home and did our traditional Christmas at home. The boys slept in fairly well and didn't even wake at the sounds of the Tooth Fairy, Santa, or Mack stirring in our home throughout the cold night. They even slept in a little bit! Nolan woke up first (well, besides my lying there patiently waiting for one of them to get up) and I heard him shout, "SHE CAME!!! SHE FINALLY CAME!!" and in our room he sprinted carrying his note from the Tooth Fairy and his $5 (the note stated that he got a little bit more since it was his very first tooth and he pulled it himself). He set it down and pranced down the hallway as fast as he could and was beyond thrilled to see that the jolly ole' fella came to our house, too! He found Mack in his usual Christmas morning spot: our tree, where he can get the perfect view! The boys must have been very good this year because Santa treated them well! Nolan got everything that was on his wish list! He was most excited about his toy soldiers (yes, the typical decoration kind) and his furby. He was also happy that Parker got him the Space Jam DVD.

Parker did a wonderful job opening up his gifts! His favorite (besides the boxes and bows) was his Mickey Mouse microphone. He hasn't stopped singing in it yet!

Shortly after opening presents, relaxing, and playing, we headed to Effingham to Meemaw & Papa's house. We were EXCITED because we knew they were supposed to get a "blizzard." The boys got spoiled as usual by them: Nolan got an iPOD touch and Skylanders (along with other goodies, too) and Parker got a plasma car (which him and Nolan are both enjoying in our unfinished basement). They were happy to see Papa had put up his train around the tree and the lights on their own trees in the backyard were shining brightly that evening. I love traditions! Later, the snow started to fall. I wouldn't quite call it a blizzard by any means, but it was excellent snow for building a snowman in record time and Parker was able to experience it for the very first time. Nolan instantly plopped down and made a snow angel. There's something magical about the first snowfall of the year, isn't there?

We had a beautiful and fun Christmas and I hated to see it go. And, yes, I still have my tree up! :) They will be coming down soon, I'm sure. That's usually Daddy's job since I have a hard time with seeing them go. It's very melancholy for me to take them down and pack them up.

Here's to wishing 2013 is a year of HAPPINESS, HEALTH (still praying for a good scan in April), and LOVE for this family...and our friends and family, too. There's so much to be thankful for!