Link's First Christmas

Link had a very wonderful first Christmas. We kept things simple so as not to exhaust us or the boys, and focused our efforts on enjoying time spent with family and ourselves. One day I look forward to late nights of drinking holiday adult beverages and preparing extravagant Christmas meals, but with the boys being so young it was nice to rely on the generosity of family for delicious food, and leaving early to get to bed before the kids get overtired. We had a enjoyable, relaxing Christmas and I am very thankful.

On Christmas Eve day, Robbie had to work. We had thought he had the day off and made plans for the day, but alas we had to change everything at the last minute. So for the first part of the day, I was home alone with the boys and we played outside in the yard.

asleep in the carrier

When Robbie came home, we left right away for his families house where we shared an early dinner of homemade vegetarian lasagna, played with cars, pretended to be frogs, and opened gifts. Jess made it up from Boston so the boys got to have some fun with their Auntie as well.

Buddy

Playing cars

The boys were very tired when we got home that night and went right to bed. Robbie and I busied ourselves with putting presents under the tree. Pi and Theta were excited and peeked at their present early.

In the morning we had some very excited boys and lots of snuggles all waking up together in our cozy bed.

Robbie carried an eager Meo downstairs to see if there was anything in our stockings. He was delighted to see there was. Every year we give Pi and Theta a few new cat nip mice which they are obsessed with and we had fun playing with them for a while. The boys got some new percussion instruments like rhythm sticks, animal shakers and egg shakers through the Music Together store (the music class they take). Meo got some cozy LLBean moose slippers too.

We had a very simple breakfast of toast and tea/coffee. Meo got to use he very special tea cup that our friends Kasia and Henry had made just for him. He had blueberry tea with honey and we could tell he felt very special having his own cup. It has a sleeping bear, trees, and a moon on it; all things Meo loves.

I also put out the muffins that Meo and I made for the birds. I spread two dozen of them out all over the deck and within an hour they were all gone. I think the squirrels may have stolen them all.

squirrels stealing muffins, but entertaining Pi and Theta

After breakfast we opened our gifts by the tree. Robbie got a nice LLBean Winter coat as he hasn't had a winter coat for years and a pair of pants. I got some cozy slippers and an appointment for an hour long post-natal massage. Pi and Theta got a new scratching post. Meo and Link shared gifts this year. We got them two new books: "Owl Moon" and "A Book of Sleep" (both about owls). They also got a little wooden tool box (Hape), some wooden blocks (Plan Toys), some pasta play food (Hape), a set of dominos I made (these were special for Meo), and some triangular beeswax crayons. We were all very happy with our wonderful gifts.

holding hands

While getting dressed and ready to go, I snuck in a quick photo session of the boys:

 

We spent the remainder of the day at my Dad and Sue's house along with my siblings and nieces and nephews. There we shared my most favorite meal (I look forward to this every year) of fruit salad, cheese, crackers, quiche and warm cinnamon rolls. I may have had too gianourmous plates of food throughout the day. We also opened gifts from one another. Everyone was really great about letting Meo and Bryce open most of the gifts because they had so much fun doing it. Bryce enjoyed having Meo help open his presents so much that at one point towards the end when Meo got tired and came to crawl into my lap, Bryce started crying because he missed Meo. It was such a sweet, tender moment. The boys got so many wonderful presents, as did Robbie and I. Truly we feel overwhelmed with the generosity of our family this year, as with every year. We received many things that we really needed/wanted that we have unable to get for ourselves and are grateful beyond words. Thank you so much. This includes my Mom and Dana, who do not celebrate the holidays but constantly shower us with gifts, especially for the boys. Most of the boys nicest toys come from our families and we are so grateful that they have such wonderful toys and furnishings to help them grow, learn and play.

Sam and Cheyanne

Link and Link

Meo and Bryce had so much fun playing with all their new toys together, and playing with their Aunts and Uncle. Every time they are together, they play more and more together and it is just so wonderful that they have each other. Plus Cheyanne and Link are the same age as well, so it will be so fun to see them start to play together and with their big brothers as well. Link got to take a nice long nap on Memere, which was so sweet and allowed Mama some time to play with the big boys.

a tired Meo

After another full day of family, fun and love, we ended our Christmas by going home, giving Meo a bath, then relaxing before bed. Pi and Theta both got a nice Christmas grooming session in as well.

Christmas didn't end on Christmas day however. We still had a day of celebration with the Gosselin side of the family. This party was held at the elderly place that my Pepere currently resides in. There, Pepere got to meet Link for the first time, which was a very special moment. The boys received some more special gifts and Meo enjoyed playing and interacting with his Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. If I had to guess what his three favorite parts of this gathering were, I would say it was playing dominos with Auntie Sam and Bryce, Looking at the gingerbread house with Aunt Patrice, and singing Christmas carols with the whole family. Meo was singing and saying "Again! Again!" after almost every song. It's so wonderful to be part of a family that loves to make music together.

Checking out the gingerbread house with Aunt Patrice

Pepere meeting Link

Dominos with Auntie Sam and Bryce

Christmas carols

We truly had a wonderful Christmas and are so blessed with such a loving family. We wish we could have more gathering and see everyone lots more throughout the year, but are grateful that we at least have this time to look forward too. Thank you all.