Holiday 2014 recap...

Now that the boys are getting older, we are able to spend a little more time visiting friends and family overnight. It still isn't ideal but we are learning with trial and error what works and what doesn't. We started our holiday journeys at Thanksgiving where we spent 2 nights in Winston-Salem with Popi and Meme (Jason's Dad and step-mom) at their house prior to driving to Charlotte to celebrate the first birthday of Seve (the second child of Jason's brother and his wife). We had debated driving home between the events but ultimately decided that we really didn't want to spend all that time in the car over the holiday so plans were made.

We drove down Thanksgiving morning and enjoyed a feast with all the Liner family. When I say all, I literally mean ALL of them. 6 grandparents, 6 children and their spouses and their 10 SONS! Yes, every one of the kids who has a kid has boys (and #11 is due in May!) It was a great day spent eating, playing games and eating some more. On Friday, Jason, the boys and I went over to Nana's house (Jason's mom) for some visiting and lunch. From there we went to the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem and were joined by Meme and Popi where we all enjoyed ourselves and wore ourselves out being silly. We headed home long enough to have a small snack then loaded in the car to go see the lights at Tanglewood. This is the second year for the littles and the third for Chase. While most of the lights are the same from year to year, the experience is always slightly different. The boys sit on laps or with their heads out the sunroof oohing and aahing as we pass from display to display. On Saturday morning, we loaded up the car and the kids and headed for Charlotte. After lunch and birthday cake we packed up the crew and headed back to Raleigh.

Kids table for Thanksgiving at Meme and Popi's house

Climbing the beanstalk at the children's museum in Winston

Celebrating Seve's first birthday

Christmas lends itself to another circus-like atmosphere. We started the season with the Reindeer Run and the YMCA, Christmas parade in the town of Wake Forest, Brunch with Santa followed by a Christmas program by the littles at preschool (Wed. Dec. 17) and college graduation of Whitney, our sitter who is more family than friend (Thurs. Dec. 18) . From there we capped off the week with the Liner family Christmas gathering (Sat. Dec. 20). We got there a little late because Chase had his final basketball game of the season. Since Jason is the coach, we couldn't miss the game so we joined the festivities a little later than the others. That same night, Jason's step-sister and her husband and 3 girls drove in to town from Florida for the holiday. We got the 3 siblings and their children together on Sunday (Dec. 21) for family pictures (mainly Meme and Popi and their 9 grandkids all together) but also had some great whole family shots taken as well. We left for Raleigh that night to rest before the next rounds of fun started.

Post-Reindeer run visit with Santa

The Chic-Fil-A cow was there before the parade started

Pictures with Santa before brunch

Our favorite graduate!

A bedtime story with the cousins!

The 9 grandkids all in a row according the birth order

Nana came down to celebrate Christmas with us (Wed. Dec. 24) and stayed until Friday. My mom and Grandparents, who had spent Christmas week in Ohio with my brother and his wife and kids, came over on Sunday (Dec. 28) for our Christmas celebration. We had a couple days to rest and then Meme and Popi headed our way on Wednesday (Dec. 31) for their part of the fun.

My traditional Christmas Eve picture in front of the fireplace

While it is a busy time of the year for everyone, I also feel like we are blessed. We have family that is willing to travel to us and stay at our house instead of us having to take the kids away from their own home at the holidays. Everyone gets to watch the kids open their gifts in a private setting and kids get to enjoy small doses of presents, instead of being overwhelmed and not able to enjoy each gift and have the giver watch them and their excitement over it.

Today is Monday, January 5th and the New Year is here in full force. Well, maybe not full force since Chase still has 1 week left of his break. I have to admit it is a nice way to ease back into the chaos of early bedtimes, even earlier mornings and racing out of the house to get everyone to their places on time. The weather was mild yesterday but heading toward cool, no, make that cold by the end of the week.

Nevertheless, we had a wonderful holiday season and made great memories with the kids and our families.  A quick list of the things we did include: Reindeer run, Christmas parade, Brunch with Santa, baking and decorating cookies, making reindeer food, roller skating, play dates with friends, Coconut Charlie's Bump and Bounce, Tanglewood lights, UNC Women's basketball game, UNC/ND Men's basketball game (tonight, with just Chase), lots of college football (GO Irish!) but most importantly, time with each other. While we tried to make memories doing things with our kids, we also tried to make memories just being. Spending time at home, playing board games and being silly. Snuggled together in bed or laying on the couch under piles of blankets.

Christmas may pass too quickly, but the memories and traditions we are creating with and for our children will last a lifetime. Year 6 without my Dad at Christmas was the hardest by far but I hold my memories close to my heart and only hope that my boys will one day do the same. I know that mine have carried me through good times and bad and when the memories of Christmas past make me weep, I try to look into the eyes of my boys and think about Christmas future and imagine what it has in store for me. Chase, Jack, Graham and Anthony - thank you for reminding me that there is still purity and joy in the season. Jason - thank you for tolerating my crazy traditions and embracing me along with them. You are my rock and my love.

Disney trip - November 2014