Christmas 2012 - part 1

Here are some Christmas photos that we've taken throughout the past couple of weeks: 

We visited Santa on the Square.  He is so sweet and was very happy to meet Isabella in person, as he's heard a lot about her.  She wore her finest clothes to visit the big guy (courtesy of Aunt Tonia).  Mercer was a little shy around Santa, but the big guy did not take it personally and gave him a candy cane.  

The next week, we built a gingerbread house, gingerbread trees & people.

Little sister didn't really help - she watched Mercer and me build it... but she did want to get in on the photo with her big brother.  

Later that week, we went to a neighborhood Christmas party.  There - they had a cool "Santa's helper" at the party who rode in on a motorcycle!!  Mercer was comfortable enough with Santa's helper to talk to him about his sister and his wish for some legos.  Mercer and Todd - as mentioned on the last blog post - stayed out really late at this party while Isabella and I crashed early.  

We also celebrated an early Christmas at our house -- sharing some gifts with each other before driving up to North Carolina.  

"Sister" got Mercer a camera.  











Mercer picked out a light-up musical turtle for Isabella.  








Here, Mercer is "trying" to pass off some of his cars as a last-minute gift to Todd and myself~  Todd and I already received the greatest gift we could imagine last month.... the addition of a baby girl into our family + watching Mercer become the really great big brother that he is (so far).  ~~  

After the little event at the house + an extensive packing session of Todd's SUV, we headed to North Carolina for the Nunn family Christmas party.  While in town – we got to see some of my dad’s family too.  Funny thing about a baby… everyone wants to come visit & hold the sweet innocent little nugget.   And she’s a good little nugget; she’s agreeable to people holding her and ooh-ing and ahh-ing over her. 

Dad’s sister, Becky, and her hubby (lovingly known as “crazy uncle Tony”) came over to my mom’s house to see Isabella and Mercer.  They commented on how much she looked like Mercer and they were “tickled” by that.  

Dad’s brother David came too, but didn’t get a chance to hold baby girl as his two daughters did most of the cuddling.  His wife, Francis, was only able to sneak little time from the girls.   So… everyone wants to come visit, hold, and even feed the baby… but we did not have any takers on changing her diaper.  Hmmmm




Todd, Mercer, Isabella, and I also spent some time at my grandma & grandpa’s house (Mercer & Isabella’s great grandma & great grandpa).  Grandma held Isabella and doted on our little “baby doll.”  Meanwhile, Todd was building lincoln log structures that Mercer would promptly crash & tear down.  All around, it was entertaining!   

The following day, we prepped for the Christmas party.  (Great) Grandma and Grandpa were there.  As were Mel, Erica, Sandra, Eddie, Rhonda, and the “kids.”  Of course, it seemed that all of the aunts wanted a turn holding Isabella.  My cousin Mandy found her sweet spot on the couch for most of the party snuggling with the sweet baby.   We were happy to oblique!  



Aunt Sandra and Isabella  

Aunt Rhonda and Isabella

The guys cut loose - trying on different stick-on mustaches.





Uncle Mel











Uncle Eddie




















Todd
















Michael














Cooper













even Aunt Sandra tried one on too!  














Mercer refused to wear one.  He played with his toys as well as a manger set that Erika and Mel gave him (so sweet)!  

And - here's a final shot of the party:  budding artist, Emma, with Grandma

It was nice to see everyone and spread a little holiday cheer... sharing our "new gift" with the family!  

The next day, we headed up to see Todd’s family in New Jersey.  We hit a bit of a snag…. Todd’s SUV had a pretty serious malfunction occur while we were in the middle of the mountains of Virginia.  Driving slowly to a dealership in Charlottesville, we dropped the car off.  They checked things out and said that “sorry to tell you this the day before Christmas, but you’re not making it to New Jersey in your own vehicle.”  Not what we wanted to her, of course, but we had at least left early enough in the day that we were able to get a rental car (our first encounter with a mini-van, actually) and several hours later were back on the road.  We don’t know what is in store for Todd’s SUV, but we are putting it behind us for at least Christmas day and deal with it on the way home. 

Another "snag" was looming over us as well:  a slushy snow storm.   While Todd had to navigate our way north on a very stressful drive in a rental... I got to take advantage of some beautiful scenery, however.  
- The snow-dusted rolling hills of the Virginia foot-hill farms are stunning... as are pristine woods in a snow storm.  
- Horses braving the cold - standing tall with a light dusting on their backs.  Snow-capped stone walls surrounding historic homes and plantations.  
- Wineries with their empty grape vines -- replaced with a little of the white stuff clinging on the branches instead.  
- charming main street Sperryville, VA with quaint art galleries and shops (maybe check that place out sometime when we have some time to browse??)

It's all beautiful unless you are sliding around in the slushy white stuff on the ground.  We decided to stop driving and pull over to spend the night in Winchester, Virginia.  

So, we hit some snags.  We weren't spending Christmas Eve with family or doing the big "opening of the presents" from under the tree.... but the most important thing is that the 4 of us were together.  We were safe.  We'd be on our way the next morning.