We Wish(ed) You a Merry Christmas

Better late than never?

Our Christmas was very nice. It would our first Christmas 'at home' as well as Egan's first Christmas. He remained largely oblivious of the event, but the rest of us had a great time.

We started with a little gingerbread construction on the 23rd. Xander and Elena went to town. The motto was 'eat less, decorate more.'


I made them eat a bowl of grapes and drink a large glass of milk before starting to try and stem the sugar tide. It sort of worked.

Christmas Eve we cooked up a storm. And after a quick dinner dashed off to the Christmas Eve service at church. We weren't even late! And all dressed up without spit up in time to snap this photo.


Then, it was time to start some of our own traditions. Since we didn't have a large clan to gather with and eat soup (Jake's side) or party to do tequila shots at (my side....don't worry, there are for the baby Jesus, just ask Jane), we had to make our own fun. So we had a picnic on the living floor by candle and christmas twinkle light.


Then we played tiddlywinks (I'm not kidding) and ate Busch de Noel.



Elena wrote her letter to Santa.



And the stockings were hung above the credenza with care.

Egan's Christmas Sock

Our whole family has hand knit Christmas socks (please drool Christie & paleoHeather). My sock was knit by my Great-Grandmother, Grandma Butch, just in time for my first Christmas. It matches my mother's and my brother and Dad have ones in slightly different patterns. Jake's sock was knit by a family friend who taught with Dinny before Jake was born. Jake likes to tease me because I take it to be a sign that we were meant to be together because we both had handknit socks (in his family, he has the only one). Of all the signs we were meant to be together (like rock geeks taking all their geology classes together), I actually place more weight on the hand knit Christmas sock sign. We travel with our socks in our carry on luggage at Christmas because I can't bare the thought of Christmas morning without them. Jake is petrified we will lose them if we check them, and I'll never recover. So we shove them into ziplock bags and tuck them into the bottom of our backpacks. I've never had a Christmas morning without my sock. It is always a special connection to my great grandmother.

When Elena was born (and when Michele joined the Kraal Clan), our dear family friend, Louise Parks, knit a sock for Elena. It's the same pattern as my Dad's sock (and Steve Parks - see it's meant to be!). Elena's sock is HUGE. She likes to brag about it. We are so grateful that Louise took the time to knit Egan his sock just in time for his first Christmas. Green with reindeer, it will be a family treasure for years to come. I cried when I opened the package and saw how beautiful it is.

Elena shows off her sock (please note and then comment on HOW BIG IT IS.)



Egan's tucked into his and ready for Christmas morning.

Yummy!

Since I don't really care for cake, Jake always has to get creative with my birthday treat. This year was the best ever...an icecream pie in cookie crust with peppermint stick ice cream topped with a chocolate pots de creme and sprinkled with candy canes!




Served with hot cocoa.

And the gift theme was the 'hoodie' year. I love me a good ralph macchio.

Sinterklaus

Elena & Egan really make out from the 'Saint Nicholas' tradition...since they are Dutch & American he actually comes TWICE. The first visit is in the Dutch tradition. On December 5th (St. Nicholas Day), while you are eating dinner, there is a loud knock on the door and Sinterklaus has left a bag of caudetjes! (presents) He rides off on his Wit Paard (white horse) before you can catch a glimpse. To help save wear and tear on the ole Wit Paard and to spend a great evening with our friends, we always get together with KBX, so the Sint only has one stop in Blacksburg (barring any other Dutchies in the area, of course). Elena has left her shoes under the tree a few days before with a note letting him know about our December 5th location, he left some sweets in exchange, and the Wit Paard ate his apple.


See how much fun Egan had!


The big kids with their loot


Elena got a much wanted doll stroller, mismatched socks, her favorite dutch shampoo, a rolling backpack almost just exactly like Xanders, and, of course, a chocolate letter E. Egan made off with some pacies and a new art deco mobile. We had pannekoeken, spekulas, and other dutch treats.

Laughter is the best medicine

The best birthday present ever!

Egan laughed for the first time today! He's been getting close when I nuzzle his chin on the changing pad. But just an hour ago while playing our first game of peek-a-boo he let out his first laugh. The event exhausted him, he required nursing and a nap in the sling.

Auntie Jo comes to town

How exciting is that! We were so happy that Jo could get time off work and join us.
When Jo arrived, we took her to WildFlour, our favorite cafe in Roanoke where everyone had lunch, then sampled the desserts:

(chocolate mint brownies rule!)

She visited Elena when she was almost exactly the same age, so it was special to have her with us for Egan's 2 month birthday. Elena, in particular, loved having her Auntie here to spoil her. In fact, now she demands and hand massage and finger stretches following her bath when she gets her lotion on.

Jo had so much patience with Elena, and I know she didn't get to hold Egan as much because Elena was so excited to have her here.



In addition to Thanksgiving and our annual tree hunt, we took Jo on a good ole fashion walk in the 34 degree rain. We'd been cooped up in the house for over a day and it looked like the rain was taking a pause, so we all piled into the car to give Auntie Jo a tour of campus....we were about 15 minutes from the car when the fog turned decidedly to drizzle, then rain. Our resident meteorologist tried to talk his way out of it, but to no avail. Can you believe this guy is paid to teach college kids about the weather! Here Jo and Jake display the Sewall Thumbs up typically indicating that they are having a good time.


In addition to Elena's hand massage, I got a facial (every keeps remarking how great I look - I just say thanks and keep my SIL's secret weapons to myself!) and Jake has even stopped washing his face with handsoap and is looking markedly less greasy.

Thanksgiving 2008

What a wonderful Thanksgiving! Not only did we have Nana and Big Opa here - we also had Auntie Jo, who arrived on Wednesday morning (but more on her visit in a minute). We celebrated the feast with our dear friends KBX (KirstenBradXander) and enjoyed our heritage turkey and all the wonderful side dishes - plus three desserts.





Egan slept through the whole dinner - can you believe it! He only woke up to nurse through dessert. What a kid! Guess he wanted to make sure that I was getting plenty for the milk factory!

We said our Grace (nana brought '52 ways to say grace' - so each kid picked on out). Then we toasted to friends and family that we were with and that were far away. Then Jake raised his turkey leg in honor of Martha! (sorry, no photo this year) and we thought of Martha, Heather, theMeegs, and paleoHeather (whose stuffing shovel towel lovingly swaddled the rolls this year).