Happy New Year Momma’s, momma’s to be!
The 2014 holiday season was fantastic, but I am Tired, emphasis on the capital T! Our holiday season began with a health diagnosis that makes that tiredness even more extreme, my husband traveling for 12 days prior December 22…which also happened to be the day my brother and his wife to be arrived for a 2 week stay from Colorado, with their two big dogs. Thinking back to all I pulled together and took care of makes me tired, and a little amazed. (yay, go me!) After all, there was a lot of extra special firsts in this year I dreamed to celebrate. My goal was to keep the Christmas magic and reason for the season in perspective.
This was our first Christmas in our new home, back in Michigan!
Bro + wife to be’s first Christmas without her being with her family (I remember mine, it’s not easy to find that balance when you’re working to merge two families)
Magic – it is STRONG in our house, with a 4 and 7 year old.
So, going back to the beginning of Advent. I was fortunate enough to attend a beautiful and moving Advent by Candle light for just women at Christ Church Cranbrook that set the inspiration to go into the Christmas season with peace, hope and joy. God worked hard on me to keep that going all season long – with all the extras and specials to include too! Thank you God! Somehow, I was able to keep a “somewhat level head” about me, or at least I felt that way, while working to make everything come together. There may have been some wine too. And Christmas cookies. And running. And kid cuddles. Whatever it takes!
As we approached the return of the Dad from his business trip, and the arrival of Unk (as the boys call him) + his loves, the excitement of Christmas was awesome. Questions were asked about where Santa starts his journey (after leaving the North Pole), how long he stays at one house, we watched Prep and Landing – totally fun and perfect for the boys at this age. We also watched Home Alone, maybe a little over the younger ones head, but older son LOVED it. We continued to read stories about Christmas (real Christmas, not just the Little Engine That Could – Saved Christmas), lit our Advent candles and set up our Nativity (once, a fire truck shared the manger with Jesus…wish I snapped a photo! Youngest son said it was there to help. Fair enough!)
Soon enough our house population doubled, plus dogs (I am NOT a dog person, thankfully our home has a sun room that hosted their needs just fine) and the excitement was growing. Not just for Christmas but for also exploring the D with a non-native.
A quick list of our ‘out of the house’ activities:
- Wild Lights at the Zoo
- The Zoo (during the day)
- Christmas Eve worship at Christ Church Cranbrook (amazing)
- Detroit Public Library, main branch
- Detroit Historical Museum
- Riding the People Mover
- Grand Trunk Bar for dinner
- Great Lake Invitational at the Joe (more people mover riding from Greek Town)
- Campus Martus Park (walk by only)
- The Henry Ford
- Swimming at Lifetime Fitness
plus…
- NYE @ home, with a collection of Minute to Win it Games played with both sets of grandparents + Unk and his love…
