Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017 wraps up today with New Year's Day, and we are all feeling refreshed after so much time together during this break. Christmas was a bit hectic this year, since we were still (and are still) settling into our new home in the Bay Area. But we got to enjoy the holiday through the eyes of a 3.5-year-old and a 15-month-old. It was awesome. Here are some photos documenting our awesome holiday.

Declan had a blast with the boxes, naturally.

We found time to make (last-minute) Christmas cookies for Santa. It was ridiculously messy but we all kept our patience and made some tasty treats.

Christmas morning, the boys were ready to go! Santa visited (we don't have a fireplace, but we do have a chimney, so Santa made it work) and gave Marshall what he asked for ("a robot that turns into a car," which turned out to be a K'Nex set so Marshall can turn the pieces into whatever he wants!). He gave Declan pajamas, which will likely motivate Declan to learn to speak by the time he makes his request next year.

We spent Christmas evening and night at my parents' house, which is obviously much closer now. It was a treat to be such a short drive away after 14 years (!!!!) of being so far.

(PopPop with Declan and our nephew Colby)

Cousins!

PopPop with the twins

Back at home, we had a full week together, home and relaxed. Walks in our new neighborhood, long mornings in our pajamas playing at home until we all got cabin fever and then found an excuse to go outside. 

And date nights! THREE of them!

The boys' first trip to the city!

Exploring new parks :-) 

This guy loves animals

Lots of house organizing and decorating. 

I hope time will show that this week is the one where our little boys became friends. They have coexisted, tolerated each other, bonded a bit over the last 14+ months, but this week they truly turned a corner. Suddenly, they are buddies. Marshall is talking about Declan like they are best friends. The two of them are suddenly interacting and playing together. The bickering has significantly reduced. And the result is an abundance of adorable moments.

On New Year's Eve, the boys went to bed at their usual times, and Terry and I enjoyed a quiet evening together. 2018 will be the year we become acquainted with the Bay Area, the year our boys turn 4 and 2, the year we transition through a whole bunch of changes.

Ultimately, the time I spend with this family makes me happier than I thought possible, and with them I can handle any challenges or unexpected circumstances that come our way. Here's to another incredible year!