Christmas celebration #3

This is the year to celebrate Christmas with my family. Two years ago, we had two 8-9 month olds and my younger brother was newly married. This time there are two nearly-three-year olds and two 8-9 month olds. It's a bit chaotic at times, but mostly it's a lot of fun. Thomas loves having a constant playmate (though his sharing skills have not been the greatest) and it's fun for me to see my brothers and my sisters-in-law. We arrived on Christmas afternoon and my older brother and his family came in from California later that evening, just in time for dinner (and since I had not seen them since Thanksgiving last year, it was a great reunion). Here's some of the group after dinner that night:


Eliza (or "baby Eliza" as Thomas calls her) enjoyed her first Christmas:


Since it was a balmy near-80 degrees on Christmas, some folks wore shorts...


Nannie thought maybe Thomas would be ready to sleep on a "bed" like his cousin Katherine, but instead he just likes to ask people to come see it, and then he jumps on it. Sometimes he invites Katherine to jump on it, too.

(Katherine is laughing, not crying, there.)

Christmas night we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and Thomas & Katherine blew out the candles on His cake:


Then Thomas got his first taste of the delicious banana cake we eagerly anticipate each holiday! I always have to make sure Mom has her order in for this most scrumptious dessert. Thomas liked it (but didn't eat it all):


We decided to wait and open presents the morning after Christmas when the children were refreshed. Eliza was excited about it:


Thomas was lost in presents:


Katherine was extremely impressed with her Aunt Molly (I love her "I'm not going to smile for you no matter how silly you act" face.):


And Parker just tried to get a moment with his gifts before his brother stole them away!


Nannie modeled Katherine's tiara to show her how to wear it...


Parker loved his new superstar stage:


Katherine wowed us all with her fabulous puzzle skills:


And Parker, well, he just smiled.


Last night Thomas took Katherine for a spin on the Jeep, but she quickly showed she was the better driver and she put him in the passenger seat:


How cute are these cousins?


They had a blast.


Since it was a bit chilly outside, Parker just watched from his cozy little warm spot:


Christmas really is for children. And it's so fun seeing all of ours together.