Our holidays have been even sweeter this year, understandably. Having a newborn around during the Christmas season brings the "reason for the season" to the forefront of my mind. I can't imagine Mary's thoughts, fears, wishes, hopes...
We enjoyed Shoemaker Christmas in Lebanon the weekend before Christmas. Lyla loved seeing all her aunts and uncles again as well as meeting her cousins. Noah really enjoyed playing with all of his second cousins, but especially enjoyed Addie (he kept asking about her throughout the next week!).
 |
| Noah loves decorating sugar cookies with Grandma Shoemaker! |
 |
| Playing is hard work! |
Christmas Eve was spent at our house--just the four of us.
 |
We went to a service at church. Noah really liked his cupcake afterwards!
After dinner at home, we popped popcorn and watched Mickey's Christmas Carol curled up on the couch together. |
 |
| Christmas morning brought lots of excitement....one little boy couldn't sit still! :) |
 |
| Noah really liked his Car from Grandma and Grandpa Sampson! He is learning how to steer, but we still have to correct the path occasionally. |
Two days after Christmas, we piled into the car for a long drive to Pennsylvania. Both kids did great! Noah didn't fall asleep very easily, but was easily entertained by watching
Cars multiple times both ways. I never take as many pictures as I would like, but never really think the pictures I do take turn out very well, so we will have to sear the memories in our minds, I guess.
 |
| Lyla's first bottle with Daddy. Practicing for date night. :) |
 |
| We all opened lots of presents at Grandma and Grandpa Sampsons. All of our relatives were very generous!! |
 |
| We spent a long morning at a place called "Monkey Joes" which was full of inflatables to climb and slide down. Noah did much better than other times we had tried inflatables--I think because Daniel was able to go with him on these. He also had Grace and David to follow, which got him going initially, but soon he was taking off on his own! I'm not sure who had more fun--the kids or the dads! :) (When we got back to St. Louis, we found out there is a Monkey Joes nearby...Daniel has requested to go multiple times!) |
 |
| The kids enjoyed lots of snuggle time with Grandma. |
 |
| Noah really liked playing with Gracie. |
The morning after our return to St. Louis, we "enjoyed" a major snow storm that brought 12+ inches of accumulation and multiple days of subzero temps! Perfect timing on the return of a great trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment