A Perfect Christmas

2010 brought one an amazing Christmas!  One of the best I have ever had!  We had almost my entire family together, which considering the size of our family, doesn't happen all the time.  The only missing member was my brother Sean and his family.  We were really bummed that they couldn't be there with us, but also grateful that the rest of us could be together.

Some of the highlights:

*My sister, Ellen, went shopping with me early in the morning on Christmas Eve.  I had some last minute items to get, and we both left our kiddos at home with the dads.  I haven't gotten to shop much since having a baby, especially without Tavian with me, and especially not with one of my favorite people!  I really enjoyed that time with her!

*Christmas Even dinner at Hibachi.  Ever since I can remember one of our Christmas traditions was to eat Chinese on Christmas Eve (probably because they are all that is open!).  It used to be Chinese buffets but in later years we have upgraded to Hibachi.  This year we had a group of 25 plus 2 infants.  Talk about a crazy, fun time :)  The food was yummy and we got an entire back room to ourselves which made it more intimate!

*All of Christmas day was wonderful.  Andrea, Luke, and Augustine stayed at our house so we did Christmas morning/Santa stuff with just us.  Around 12 we went over to Sarah's house where everyone else was and opened the rest of our gifts together.  It was a blast.  We got some wonderful gifts!!

*Andrea's family and my family also spent a few hours in downtown Fort Collins.  We ate lunchat La Luz, grabbed some Starbucks, and walked around.  It was wonderful!

*Tavian had some big milestones on Christmas as well.  Not only did he get his first black eye (he is all boy!), but he also took his first step.  Notice I said step, not stepS, but we were still so excited!

*My sister Ellen and I are the musicians in the family and I had another special time with her playing piano and guitar together.  We used to do stuff like that all the time and I have really been missing it.

*We even got to celebrate Augustine's first birthday.  Cole and I were so glad we got to be with our Godson on such a special day!!!

Andrea, Luke, and Augustine came to town mid-morning on Christmas Eve.  They stayed with us the entire trip (until the following friday), and we had SO much fun together.   I can't tell you how even the most ordinary, every day things, are more fun with them with us.  Dinnertime was special.  Playing games after the babies went to sleep was super fun.  Waking up and getting to see my sister every single day was just the best.  It has been so long since that has been the case.  It was a small glimpse of what it will be like when they move back (in 2 years...but who is counting?).  I just felt so blessed!!

There was really only one glitch over the holidays.  On the 26th Augustine got really sick and started throwing up.  He was sick for quite a long time, and seeing a one year old throw up is so heartbreaking.  I think Tavian caught what he had because he was having stomach issues for the rest of the week as well.  But, even with some sickness, the boys still did really well and we still managed to have a great time. 

I know this post was a bit jumbled, but I had a lot to include!  I think I will remember this Christmas forever...well of course I will, as it was Tavian's first!  I'm just so happy that his first Christmas will be remembered for all the right reasons.  Happiness, family, love..to name a few.  And, thankfully, no drama :)  Who could ask for more?!?

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!