This past week has been packed full of equal parts fun parties with friends and good solid down time with just the five of us. We hosted a rockin’ Christmas Eve party complete with 8 little boys under the age of 7 running around, plus 2 babies! All of us still managed to congregate in the living room by the fire after stuffing ourselves silly with all sorts of good food. We really truly enjoyed the company and warmth of friends on such a cold night. I didn’t snap too many pictures of the guests, as I was having much too much fun splitting my sides with laughter listening to my Andrew plot and scheme about building a cabin from scratch out in the woods somewhere… good grief. And what party is complete without a little good-natured competition? We had an animal stacking contest but clearly our modest friend Dave outdid us all:
It was such a good night. After Andrew and I put the boys to bed, we cleaned up together while listening to Christmas music, then we had a lot of fun putting some presents into little boys’ stockings and tucking them under the tree. Truly the excitement of Christmas is so special with little ones! 
Christmas day was a peaceful one. We were all exhausted after a late night and the inevitable early rising of those three rascals… Emil and I snuck off for a nap and Andrew played with the boys for probably 12 hours straight that day. We ate lots of leftovers and drank too much coffee. The next day wasn’t so hot. Oliver and I caught some sort of stomach bug and spent the day close to home feeling rotten. We had to cancel plans with our friends and that just stinks, but what can you do? Feeling better now and looking forward to more fun with these boys before they go back to school. Lucky to have this time with them. Some of the conversations we catch them having are hilarious and touching and some are just downright ridiculous. Plus, there is just so much time for snuggling and hugging and kissing them a hundred times a day! 
I am looking back on this year with fondness and some heartsickness. It has been up and down, but mostly just a wonderful year. I look forward to learning from my mistakes, smiling at our memories, moving forward and being better. 2014, we’re ready for you!
Oh, no! You were sick too? Auggie and jack and I just spent the last 48 hours with that bug and it was brutal. I’m still not 100% today. Needless to say, i am more than ready for a new year. Hope you are feeling better.
I’m so glad you guys had a wonderful Christmas. Was this your first year not traveling? It was for us. It was strange not being with extended family, but nice not being rushed and getting to spend so much time just the four of us. Hope to see you guys soon!
Love those tree toting truck centerpieces, what a cute idea! Looks like lots of good food and fun (minus the illness of course). Happy New Year!