Extended family with the Wisneski's

She comes up here to stay with Wayne's family - and they are so many of them that we don't often get time to see each other - I get it - but was thrilled when she had a few hours on a Sunday that they could go for a walk.  But first they came to us - we could chat - the kids played some rather adorable hide and seek (after blocking all the basement windows with sleds - genius kids!).  Love how Diane is up for anything - even a fun game of balance while we talk.

A little antiquing and than some strolling along the Farmington river trail

This is only a PORTION of the family that they gather with.  Love that they factored us into an afternoon.  We loved our Wisneski fix!  Norm even scored a new dog and Nora is clearly interested in =)

Family Christmas

My sister came down Sturday and we performed what we will now coin - the Santa Buddy swap!  Each cousin shopped for a cousin - adults did the same!

Side note on Drew's scraped up face from falling down an icy hill face first. 

For the cooker in her!  When things need to hurry up!

Jason and I had each other this year!  You would think I rigged it and if I could have I would have!  Love these home made gifts!

Love capturing the excitement

And hugs

Not sure how I didn't capture the grand kids unscrambling the biggest gift of all!  We gave them 12 letters to put into words on the kitchen floor, the opened them, sorted them and Shane chimed in with DISNEY CRUISE - yup - with my dad's speech as its all a gift because a man married a beautiful girl - and here we all are - 50 years later.  (He couldn't finish the speech) - its just not possible)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUH0fWkcI8

The true gift of time spent together.  NOW the anticipation for THAT!

Loved that when Drew saw what PJs Jackson packed, he raced upstairs to adjust his PJ selection to match!

Don't you just love when a gift translates into a dining room remodel?!?!

Pretty sure these gloves really are the perfect thing!  In many ways!

Nights to gather - Kids and Adults

2 gatherings on this night after Christmas.  The first for Meredith as she is ordained a Lawyer.  Crazy as she is headed to China to work for the state department - NOTHING to do with being a lawyer, but since she didn't know if she would get the gig, she opted to finish law school and pass the bar on the first go.  The Judge that ordained her is our neighbor Judge Wu, who is FROM the small providence in China that Meredith will be moving to in a few years.

Next up - a sweet gathering at the Cravanzolas!  Love that she managed to get us all together and loved the gather time with everyone.

My mom was with the boys until about 9 - when it was time for them (and her) to go to bed.  They opted to put themselves to bed and I love how they did it.  Shane and Nick together with Drew sharing the room too.  These are the photos and moments to treasure.

Christmas Day

The Christmas morning excitement

The Christmas morning cash - yikes!

the projects due to unfold

Legos and hand warmers!  Score!

The surprise gifts from thoughtful folks in my life

The upcoming dinner!

And sometimes it really is the simple stuff.

Or just some good SHIT

Family

Food all together

Feeling the love!

Christmas Eve

How is it already Christmas Eve?!?!  With the gift of the day off, we all got to enjoy the luminary assembly together.  One of my favorite days of the year!

Old kids, young kids, neighbors working together, trucks rolling out

Feels festive all around.

And after that - some family quiet time.  Seriously

A true gift of a NAP!

Nora doesn't seem to mind being displaced.

Somehow we BARELY made it to the puppet service at First Church - there were just a few seat left - oddly right NEXT to our favorite people and the only folks we envisioned see at the service!  The Webbers and right down the pew, the McLellens!  Loved seeing Drew be excited to spot Colby in the performance!

loved the simplicity of the story and the timelessness of the performance.

We got home and look who came to visit!!

German Santa with Christmas PJs!

Hugs to my folks for capturing these photos and being with us tonight

We had cocktails and some of our favorite people over to stroll the luminaries - 

Than it was time to get cozy and get to bed!

Family selfie!

Drew inspired note - Pretty sure Santa went for the cold milk!

A quick escape

With all the schedules that come with the holidays, when Chris talked about adding a Saturday night in Boston, my first thought was - impossible - and than he talked me off the cliff and into a great escape together.  One of the Sprinkler vendors had invited a few sprinkler contractors on a night away.  We stayed at the Boston Harbor hotel and had a wonderful lunch cruise

Just being by each other's side this weekend was really refreshing.

A quick moment to wish it was snow instead of haze from the rain - love meeting with this Maryland couple who oddly enough are one degree of separation away from Shannon and Wyland!

A night in downtown Boston and ARMY vs. NAVY - what better way to spend it than in a college bar drinking $1 bud lights?!?!?  Sadly Army didn't pull out the win this year, and Chris was thankful it was only Bud light!

One to a delicious dinner around the corner and to mingle with those in his field.

Its amazing how a night like that can really feel - professionally for Chris, and connectively for us.

Love the way everything looked this evening.

Still striking the next day.

Time to head home - and hope to carry this feeling with us!

Thanks to the family and friends that covered down on kiddos making this all possible!  It takes a village!