Our usual rush of family visits was somewhat lightened this year because Mark was off work the whole week following Christmas. I mean, it was still five celebrations in five days, but believe me, that is less busy or stressful than some years past. And if you want to get all liturgical semantic (of course you do), we're supposed to celebrate for twelve days anyway. So basically five is easy.
FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS: At home with our babies and coffee and stockings and looking through what Santa brought (this year: a lego table for Nathan, a doll crib for Anneliese, and a push cart full of groceries for Charlotte). Oh and takeout Chinese. Because we're Jewish wannabes? (Nah, because last year I ruined the roast beast so I didn't even attempt anything this time.)
SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS: In Huntersville, at my dad's house. With three siblings missing this year, sadly (Ashley's family was sick, Collin was working, and Brad has that whole pesky living in the virgin islands thing). But all the normal Bumgarner stuff went down properly: Sean brought present wrapped in Bieber paper, my Grandpa snuggled with the kids so hard he fell asleep on the couch, my dad immersed himself in kiddie activities like puzzles and coloring, and of course it's not a Bumgarner Christmas til someone gets defensive and says third cousins don't count! Ahem.
THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS: In Huntersville, with Mark's mom. Y'all, this is what Christmas is supposed to be like. Simple and generous in the best most thoughtful kinds of ways. We ate snacks, we played with new gifts, Anneliese dressed herself as a doctor then planted herself in Uncle Nick's lap and refused to leave his side (you know, like you do). Very sweet evening.
FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS: In Mount Holly, at my sister's new house! We opened approximately one bazillion gifts, the most bizzarre of which were a set of plastic sleds. Not one per family. One per kid. You know, because if there has ever been a child who needed a sled, it is Charlotte, the 16-month-old who can't walk and lives in North Carolina. (However, she did love sitting in it and rocking, so there's that. I guess it can be some new indoor seating for us. Good thing it's so... pretty?) Haaaaaaomg. (Love you mom.)
FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS: Back in Raleigh, with the very rare treat of having Mark's dad and stepmom for a visit. Charlotte made her first walking attempts, Nathan built legos with Opa, and Anneliese played with her new "computer" (leapfrog game) with Oma until they both cried from laughing.
SEVENTH THROUGH TWELFTH DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: We puttered around at home and on the playground, spent lots of time in our PJs, hit up the kids museum several times, got dressed up for a fancy new year's eve dinner downtown, made a mess of our kitchen celebrating Mr. David's birthday with cake and whiskaaaaay cocktails.
So. Merry (belated) Christmas and happy new(ish) year!
2 comments:
Glad to hear from you! I was beginning to worry . . . . I look forward to the fun and games at the Goettsch home.
GREAT indoor seating. To go with the inflatable outdoor seating from a year or so ago.
And when you EVENTUALLY get snow or ice, you (rather the kids) will be happy to have sleds. On which you, the parent, will have to ride with the child in order to safely maneuver down the hill. Have fun.
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