Eat, drink, and be merry

I leaned a little harder on the eating over drinking this year. I think I just wanted to really have something to rally against come January 1.  But back to the holidays....

I have to admit that Annie has blown out the walls on my cold black Grinch heart. I was excited to put up the tree and cried a few times when reviewing all the lovely ornaments we received last year for babies first Christmas. We hung stockings and baked and LISTENED TO MONKEY FIGHTING (working on swear words) CHRISTMAS MUSIC. I even turned a blind eye to Rick getting up on a high ladder for exterior light hanging. I guess all of a sudden the risk of him sustaining a devastating injury from a fall is outweighed by my desire for Annie to see her house trimmed in lights. 

We spent time with family, but it never seems to be enough. What used to be late nights enjoying cocktails with my favorite big brother who always travels in from out of town has become measured alcohol consumption (but not food, never measure food!) and barely making it to 9:00 before we have to bail and head home.

This year was special for so many reasons, all of them Annie-centric. She seemed to know there was something special going on. She loved spending time with her beloved cousins and probably tested every ounce of patience all three of them have. And her big cousins and Uncle Dan turned it out this year for her. They noticed Annie's love of all things fort related and built her her very own tee pee! This thing is tricked out with lights and all weather canvas and you should have seen her fast-feet happy dance when she first saw it.

Behold the tee pee! Had it not been zero degrees I think she would have tried to spend the night in there. 

Thank you to these sweet ladies for such a thoughtful gift (Dan especially, though not pictured)!

And the holiday (and non-holiday) tradition of Uncle Happy and Chloe silliness continued. It's fun to see her starting to be able to dish it right back to him. After good manners, this is probably one of the most important personality traits one can have in this family. And our manners are questionable at best. 

All photos from Rick's family Christmas are on a real camera but trust it was equally awesome. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful and generous people surround us over the holidays. Thank you all for helping to make this year so special!