Until Next Year

We managed to survive the holidays with a newborn!!!!

Erik's Mom, Gail, and Grandma, Dora, came up to Vacaville to celebrate Christmas on Sunday the 23rd. We had a nice visit, listened to Christmas music, Erik made a great breakfast and the little man was so happy to see his Grandma and Great Grandma. Grandma Gail makes beautiful stockings and we now have a "family" of stockings with Max's new sock. So much fun to look at. We have named Grandma Dora the Baby Whisperer because she seems to have the magic touch when she holds babies. A soothing touch that puts them at ease..then to sleep! It was so great to have them up for the day.

Every year Lubor and Ariane (Erik's Dad and step mom) host a holiday party on Christmas Eve. We all get to help decorate the tree and get ready for the visit from Santa. Max got to meet his cousins Roxy, Vivian and Ethan and he loved to watch them play. Lubor and Ariane prepared a delicious dinner and we had a fun time opening gifts. Last year I watched Erik hold Ethan (who was about 6 months old at the time) and I thought 'we could have our own baby next Christmas..that could be us next year..'. Sure enough, I got to watch Erik hold his own son on that same couch this year.

On Christmas Day we went to my parents house and enjoyed our last of the holiday parties. There were 9 of the 10 grand kids there so it's always the most active of the parties. My Mom and Dad fed us yummy food, had the house decorated beautifully and hosted another fun Christmas. We even pulled out the chimes again. We get better every year! My family is convinced Max doesn't cry. He does, I promise. Maybe he will be anti-social...he just chooses to sleep through all the activities so far.

We were really bad with the pictures this year. The one above of 'Neutral Max' was taken on the 23rd with Max's Grandmas here. Grandma Gail made the sweater and booties! The one with the tree in the background was taken on Christmas Eve at Lubor and Ariane's home. Vivian is on the left, then Roxy and Ethan. Our lighting was off in probably 95 % of the pictures that night. But, this one shows the kids with the tree and the pretty view of the water out the window. The last is our oldest niece, Kirra, holding Max. She just looks beautiful here so I thought I'd show her off.

So next is New Years...bah! Will thing ever calm down? Will things ever be the same? Probably not. Happy New Year!