The month of December found us in three states. We made a giant loop from North Carolina to Mississippi up to Michigan and back down to North Carolina again. Couple that with Wyatt's birthday, Christmas, holiday parties, caroling, strep throat for all four of us, and the single most intense month of work I've ever known, and you have one exceedingly crazy month. We started it all the way we always do - - with a little tree decorating which turns into eating tons of popcorn while stringing just a little of it. In years past, I have pretty much done this job by myself. This year, though, Greta managed her own garland - - heavy on the cranberries and short on the popcorn.
Wyatt stood by with hot chocolate.
On Wyatt's birthday, he skyped with Aunt Lori and unwrapped the presents she'd sent to him.
Then we ate a cupcake together and it was almost like Lori was actually here. Almost.
Wyatt got a fun race track from the rest of us, and that was a giant hit until it fell off the wall a month or so later. Poor guy.
Grandma and Grandpa were in town for Wy's birthday party weekend, and we went with them to our church's Christmas Party. Greta and Wyatt ate junk food, played holiday games and took turns sitting on Santa's lap. Who knew Santa plays the guitar so well?
Wyatt finally got the marshmallow through the wreath!
We ended this fun day with an old favorite story. Grandma is great at story time!
Finally, the day of Wyatt's big Batman Birthday Party arrived!
We sent each family home with some homemade chocolate sauce. Our version of a Booth family tradition.
The Batman bouncy house!
Colin, Anna, Wyatt, Bodhi, Alex, Cooper, and Greta. Two of these kids are doing their own thing. Tell me, can you tell which ones?
Sweet moms and sweet babies.
I think this might be the last year for Wyatt's birthday crown - - unless we expand its circumference!
I did not necessarily aim to order such an enormous bounce house, but we were pleased that it could hold most of the party-goers -- at the same time!
Bodhi is one sinister little dude.
At some point during the party, Paul's dad told us to come take a look at Wyatt. This is how we found him. This is indicative of a quasi-long-lasting trend with Wyatt. He unfurled most of our toilet paper for about three months. He's finally over this phase, thankfully. Glad we got at least a little documentary evidence.
Wyatt was Spider Man for Halloween, and ever since then, when Anna comes over to our house, she finds Wy's costume and asks to put it on. She is such a darling (and ripped!) super hero.
Wyatt took a short break from the festivities to watch Curious George on Grandma's IPad.
Grandma read Wy a few more stories, and the birthday party came to an end. Happy birthday, sweet Wy.
Our sweet, tiny, little girl looks so BIG to me in these photos. She is growing up, and I am in disbelief. Sometime in the late fall of 2013 I began to notice that Greta was becoming a touch more independent and a little less needy of cuddling. This has been to my great disappointment. Since birth, Greta has loved to curl up on my lap, or on my chest, or right under my arm. She has seemed to require at least ten or twenty minutes of uninterrupted snuggle time each morning before being able to do anything. Since this past fall, though, that need seems to be lessening to a degree. Greta still snuggles each morning, but it seems more to do with her wanting to stay in bed asleep now, than because she wants to be close to me. Greta still rushes into my arms when I pick her up from school, but about three mornings a week, on average, I have to wrestle her down to give her a hug and kiss when I drop her off. I have had to begin thinking very critically about ways to mother an older kid. Wrapping her in my arms and wiping tears and whispering that I love her - - these are all extremely easy to do, are mutually gratifying, and come naturally to me. Being a good mom going forward will have less and less to do with these things, I predict, and more and more to do with listening deeply and being sincerely interested in everything she wishes to share with me. Redirecting has been replaced with logical reasoning. Being silly to get a smile has been replaced with asking just the right questions that will lead to her opening up about her day. Bed time still takes forever, but for different reasons now. She no longer plays around with her toys while we stare at the ceiling entwined. Instead, Greta asks for me to scratch her back while she talks and talks and talks about life, friends, ideas, and very often - - Nana. Greta is enormously complex, and while I look forward to her growth, I continue to be baffled that it is all happening so quickly.
We began the Christmas travels by heading down to Mississippi. Day number one involved lots of cooking with Nana!
Greta and Wyatt left some goodies for Santa and his reindeer along with a note. It's amazing how Santa always seems to find these babes - - no matter where they are for the holidays.
Christmas Eve! It was fun watching G and Wy tear into their stockings in the same room that I tore into my stockings during my childhood. And this year, they got double stockings - - one set from us, and one set from Grandma. We let G and Wy open the stockings from Grandma on Christmas Eve.
Paul got a great map of Chile. We found out just a week or so before Christmas that we'll be moving to Chile this summer!
Just before bedtime, Aunt Lori read her favorite to all the kids - - little ones and big ones.
Merry Christmas! You know it's a good day when you start the day off with lollipops!
This year, Greta asked for an American Girl baby doll, and Wyatt asked for a Spiderman. These kids sat on Santa's lap three times - once at the Charlotte tree lighting, once at school, and once at church. Each time, they asked for the same things. Santa took note, and got them just exactly what they desired.
Aunt Lori loves Christmas!
After presents were opened, everyone got dressed and played t-ball with Wyatt's new baseball stuff.
Later, after dinner, Greta and Wyatt helped clean up. What sweet little elves.
Just before bedtime, Nana read all the grandchildren a story. What a cozy end to a long, wonderful Christmas day!
Next day: a ride out to Grandaddy's hunting spot, what else?
Parker remained connected, despite being up in a deer stand in rural Mississippi.
Grandaddy's best toy - his four-wheeler - made G and Wyatt's day.
Bruce and Paul had their fun with it, too. Paul is pretending to be a slain deer. These guys . . . .
Wyatt already knows the great joys of using the outdoor facilities. He absolutely left his mark on Mississippi, so to speak.
Sweet cousins.
Onward and upward - - we left Mississippi and twelve hours later, we arrived in Michigan. First stop - - Michigan State's ice rink! This was Greta and Wyatt's first time on the ice.
Greta was fantastic! She scooted around with this little apparatus or by holding hands with others. She was a pro!
Wyatt was not as enthusiastic.
This is possibly the only cousin shot we got while in Michigan - - it was taken while we were all waiting for the Zamboni to make its rounds on the ice. Sweet Emma was in Chile, so she missed the shot.
Next big event - - the Rose Bowl! Lisa and Phil hosted the big party. Greta and Wyatt helped Aunt Lisa with all the goodies.
And of course - - what is more fun in Michigan than SNOW?! We had more than our fair share this year. It made traveling home extremely slow, but it was certainly fun while we were visiting family.
After a week in Michigan, we drove about 16 hours back to North Carolina, and began the quick conversion back to our regular life and routine. We are very grateful to have had the time and energy to make the rounds from the east coast to the deep south up to the mid-west and back again in order to see our families. Next year will be quite different. Chile calls, everyone!
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