Hushed conversations behind closed doors among little Ws as they planned what to give each other. Sneaky drives to the store with a parent or bike rides across town with each other to put plans into action. The wreath hanging on our door, a gift from a friend.
Christmas books and movies from both the library and our own personal stash. Advent stockings hanging across the fireplace. The origami angels and crown ornaments made for our family by one of the librarians. (And, no, this is not an announcement of a new W. She just absentmindedly made an extra boy crown.)
Christmas music playing on Pandora and Spotify. The snowman collection on the piano. White lights glowing on the tree in the evenings and early mornings. Christmas cards that go straight from our mailbox to the wall at the entry of our home.
Working on Christmas puzzles. Wearing Santa hats when we're cold. Baking snickerdoodles (finally tried them with almond extract and they were great), soft ginger cookies, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies on Christmas Eve. Walking as a family to deliver a bunch of the cookies to our four closest neighbors.
Dad, Debra, and Ashley arriving in time for dinner on Christmas Eve. Singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to some of the Moffits and making silly faces with Neo via Skype on their Christmas. A three mile run as a group with five Ws and Ashley on Christmas morning. The lady who asked us to stop so she could take our picture. One of the few cars on the road being friends who waved and wished us a merry Christmas.
The teamwork of making sausage balls, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad with Tim and the bigs for the whole crew to eat. Kids who were patient when we didn't open any gifts until very late in the morning. Taking the annual family picture in front of the tree.
Gifts that were thoughtful, creative, and silly. Tim reading The Legend of the Three Trees to everyone, as he does every Easter and Christmas. Sun streaming through the windows all morning. Grazing on a bunch of finger foods, plus treats that we made, Debra made, and friends gave us. Reading new books with Nana.
Putting new puzzles together. Playing new games. Enjoying new gifts. Chatting with each other. Having a low-key dinner of potato soup, focaccia, and salad (lettuce, tomatoes, and some chicken I tossed in the crockpot with pesto and then shredded when it was done cooking a day or two earlier). Following dinner up with the same treats we'd had earlier, plus some of the pie we'd eaten the night before (I don't have it posted yet) and some Nantucket cranberry pie. Going to bed. Spending some time watching funny Youtube videos with Papa, whose post about their visit can be seen here, before he left this morning.
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5 comments:
Sounds like a great Christmas! I will be trying the sausage balls for New Year's Eve, we always make finger foods and we've been wanting to try some new ones. I plan to also try the potato soup soon, it sounds perfect for a cold January day.
I hope you enjoy those two recipes, Nicole! We don't make the sausage balls very often, but the little Ws frequently request them with their birthday dinner. :)
Your Christmas sounds so heavenly! Thanks for sharing your little piece of heaven.
It really was a great day, Desiree. :)
Sounds like a wonderful day!
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