Christmas Break

 

We had a wonderful two-week break and are back at school. 

After the Arctic Blast, 30° feels so warm. I'm thankful for the heat we have in our home. I'm glad our cats all survived. And we caught three mice who seemed to seek out our warm house during the coldest weather. One was so cute though. He was a field mouse instead of the regular ugly ones. Phillip actually caught him Tom-and-Jerry style (with peanut butter and a string and a colander pulled down over it and letting it out in the field to give it a fighting chance). 

Look at that beautiful foggy sunrise.

We watched Charlie Brown Christmas and drank hot cocoa and ate toast on this night.

Christmas Eve was opening stocking gifts and gifts from Uncle John and Aunt Kristy. Phoebe has her hair done up in curls for church the next day.

Christmas morning. A little breakfast before church. 

They did a wonderful service on Christmas Day. 

I especially enjoyed Mike reading the Christmas story to the kids. 

Home to get some of the food started while the kids open the rest of the Christmas gifts.

Lanaya Elizabeth knitted me a pair of beautiful socks.

Phillip got me these monogrammed, embroidered corner bookmarks. I love them! They work really well too. 

No pictures of Christmas lunch! Oops. Delicious and stuffed. Then we watched A Christmas Carol.

Monday morning we head over to Mimi and Papa's for a chili lunch. The kids play nerf guns, pool, etc.

Harrison puts together his building kit gifts pretty quickly.

Phoebe has been wanting to go to the St. Louis Art Museum since we saw it during Shakespeare in the Park. We spent 5 hours there last Wednesday. We could have spent longer, but I think we at least covered most of it. Next time we can spend time at the things we particularly enjoyed.

Mother rocking baby. 

Sharing a sandwich and soup for lunch.

The Stone Sea sculpture.

Old furniture. 

We went to several thrift shops nearby and then shared a Pork Bowl with rice noodles. It was a delightful day. 

We've had a puzzle table out. I love it when I catch a kid or a husband sneaking in some pieces.

We got a number of games for Christmas. Jon figures out the rules and teaches us how to play. 

The boys flying their drones.

Jon wanted to play an early morning game of A Little Wordy before he had to go to work. I'm addicted.

On New Year's Eve Jonathan was working, Phoebe went to a party, and the rest of us were home. We drank sparkling grape juice to celebrate Greenland's New Year so that I could get in bed by 10. :-)