christmas time

We're home from a holly jolly holiday away from home, but still very much at home, amidst our families in Kelowna.  It never feels like enough time and this year our ten days away seemed to fly by even quicker.  It just feels good to be there - familiar and comfortable and there's nothing better than having a reason to gather the family.

Papa and Avery

Christmas Eve was spent with our Simpson side of the family.  After going to church we settled in for a cozy night together to eat homemade pizza and open gifts.  We drew names for each other again and each bought just one gift for someone else, but the pile under the tree didn't necessarily reflect that since our two girlies were happily spoiled a little more than the rest of us!

Ella and her new kicks

Mom and Dad prepping for the feast

Rhonda and Avery getting all painty

Levi and Ian

Christmas Day was spent relaxing with Levi's family again.  Mom and Dad worked together preparing the feast for our dinner, we played a few board games, Avery got into some finger paints with Auntie Rhonda, and it was just a good mellow day.  Turkey dinner was amazing and a proper fog-inducing fill.  The others played a game in the evening while I cozied up on the couch to feed Ella and watch one of Avery's new Shirley Temple movies (pretty sure I was more pumped about Avery's gift than she was, but that's just because she hasn't met Shirley yet and I think they'll actually like each other quite a bit).

Nana and Avery

Oma and Ella

Ella, meet Petrenella.  We love that our girls have the special gift of knowing their Great Oma and experiencing her warmth and delight in their little lives.  We think it's pretty great that she's in Kelowna and we get to spend some of the holidays with her, too.

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During the week we took advantage of willing grandparents and enjoyed plenty of dates out shopping for books or clothes, dining out at Cactus Club, playing games, watching movies, catching up with family and enjoying the break from everyday life.  It's always a holiday when there are many arms available to hold the baby and entertain Avery.

The Peters Family

On the second-to-last day of December we gathered with my side of the family.  We crammed all 19 of us into Terry and Karen's place and settled in for a boisterous but fun day together.  It was actually a lot less chaotic then we were anticipating it to be and plans went off as we'd hoped for a full day of exchanging gifts, playing games, visiting and feasting on a big spread of appies.  

The kids did a cousins exchange this year, each drawing a name and buying $5 worth of goodies and toys for whoever they picked.  They also got to open gifts from Gramma and Grampa - art supplies and kits all around and the surprise of pulling a mystery stuffed animal out of Santa's sack.  Santa actually made an appearance, which I'm sad I didn't get on camera, since our nephew Kaden got a Santa suit for Christmas (been on his wish list for 2 years now) and decided to surprise the others with it.

Karl and Lisa (no news here - that's our baby)

Terry, Ray, Mel and Dad

Evening was adult time and kids were sent to bed early or confined to the basement rec room for a movie.  Early bedtime was a bit of a joke as far as Avery was concerned.  She decided to be up and alert all evening.  We played our own gift exchange, much like last year, with a $10 gift for anyone that had to start with the letter "C" (for Christmas of course).  We draw numbers and pick from the pile and do the whole stealing thing.  Then we just sat back and relaxed, in between herding kids back downstairs, breaking up disputes and trying to wrangle the overexcited into their beds that is.

Sister-in-laws Karen and Lisa

Ray and Mel (no news here - that's our baby)

Sweet old lovebirds, Grampa and Gramma

Love spending time with family!  It was so good to be "home" for the holidays - especially good for my soul that misses being near family and the conveniences of a bigger town and being surrounded in the kind of beauty that makes me happy.  After a couple days of readjusting to being home bags are slowly being unpacked, gifts and books are being put in their new places, fridge is restocked, and laundry is ... getting there.  We're talking about aspirations for the new year and plans for our future and finding our groove again.

Happy New Year!