Merry (Belated) Christmas

Instead of going into all the countless details of Christmas 2011 in Alexandria, VA, I will sum it up in three bullets.

• Perfect amount of time celebrating Christmas and its festivities.
• Perfect family time. (No fights, no drama).
• Perfect to see so many friends in such a short amount of time.

Here are photos to prove all the perfect-ness that happened.

Cousins meet again.

Sibling cuddles.

Old Roomies Reunite: Caleb, Josh, and Pearson

Tamyrn and Mac

Sibling Love

Getting five kids under the age of five to sit still and smile ALL at once is impossible.

Cummings Christmas Family Photo

Santa came to visit on Christmas Eve (Mae was freaked out!)

Santa! Luke was very excited to see him.

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 30 and 31)

Week 30

Week 31

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 29)

Christmas Fun 2011

As I sit down to write this, it is Friday evening, I have a drink [Jack and Ginger], and am already in my PJ's (it is only 7:00 pm). I have a feeling of peace, contentment, and completion. There are nine days till Christmas and everything that can and could have been done is done. Christmas cards mailed; cookies made and distributed, gifts bought and wrapped and mailed and given; ginger bread house made; Santa visited; tree trimmed; lights outside hung; reindeer fed; teddy bear room at the Fairmont visited; Adopt a Family gifts delivered, first hot chocolate sipped; and Christmas music listened to on repeat for the last two weeks.

I know that this might sound like all I have been doing is running around like a crazy person and dragging my kids along. In fact, I feel that I have enjoyed this Christmas MORE than in years past. I think it is the advance planning and watching the wonder of Christmas through the eyes of a child. I can't speak for my children but based on the number of treats and "special things" that Mae has gotten to eat and partake I can say that she has been pretty happy. As for Whitaker, he seems pretty mellow about it all.

Here are some photos from the last couple of weeks and some of our activities.