Hang Your Stockings and Say your Prayers

After a whirlwind week of parties and kids events, I was a little under the weather.  But I must say I loved the slower pace of snuggling with the kids, watching movies, and sitting by the fire for a few days:

Thankfully I made quick recovery in time for Christmas week:

Sweet visit with god daughter Liza and cute Charlie

Christmas excitement

Gastonia on Christmas Eve:

Love these cousins

Christmas program

Gift opening with cute baby Beau

Then Christmas morning:

Santa brought sleds and a Peppa pig playhouse for C; a green electric scooter for W. Plus tons of other fun gifts from grandparents:

We had a great lunch with the Gordon crew compliments of the Gov and First Lady. Leave it to Caroline to ask P's security detail to join her in Frozen tea party. Sweet Andy (you have to trust me that on first glance you would not picture him as the tea party type) actually obliged. 

And then this pretty much sums up how we are all feeling now:

Don't think this guy has napped in 3+ years but has fallen asleep every afternoon since Christmas Day. 

Recognition

So happy for sweet Wells who received the principal's golden ticket award for kindergarten student of the month!

He's come such a long way since his first day of school and we are so proud!

Holly Jolly

Christmas Joy

Tree Picking and Football Watching

We picked our tree. 

A flocked one this year!

And went to watch football after Thanksgiving. This was one of my favorite days all year. Fun on a friends porch one afternoon/evening while the kids played:  

Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving this year. We missed our usual tradition of going to the mountains, but hosted here for family and friends and it was wonderful. 

My little indian getting in the spirit at school:

Pre thanksgiving with siblings, friends, and cousins:

Thanksgiving day:

Wells enjoying some of Kim's carrot cake with some extra carrots.