Home for Christmas: A Burch Family Christmas

The first week that we spent back in our house flew by as quickly as we expected that it would.  It didn't help that Jim and I couldn't seem to keep our eyes open past 8:30 each night.  Jet lag had hit us - hard.  Before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve and time to celebrate the season with the Burch Family - jet lag or not. 

 

The twins were too young to really "do" much last Christmas Eve; they were new to sitting and hadn't even starting crawling yet.  They surely don't remember much of anything about their first Christmas Eve.  I don't know if they will remember their second Christmas Eve any more than their first, but the twins were certainly more active participants in the festivities than they were last year, which would explain why they fell asleep almost immediately on our ride home that night.  Because the twins were such "active participants" in the evening's festivities, Christmas Eve was not nearly as relaxing as it once was.  We didn't enjoy it any less, though; we made memories that we will forever cherish.  I will remember the twins' second Christmas Eve as the one on which Will was most excited to receive a box of cheese crackers and a remote control car and Maddie was just as happy with a new baby doll and a crib in which to put it.  I will remember how Dakota made Will laugh with her silly antics, and how Will made all of us laugh when he gave Dakota a taste of her own medicine. 

 

I don't know that Christmas Eve will ever be the relaxing night that it was before we were blessed with Maddie and Will, but that's just fine.  Sharing the magic of Christmas with our children is much more fun!



 

 

 

Before bundling up for the trip to Sue and Matt's house, we took a few pictures of the twins in their Christmas finest in front of our tree.

In a Christmas miracle, the twins (and the light!) cooperated with the photo shoot.

Even Maddie flashed a few smiles!

It's not always easy to get this one to smile for the camera.

The twins enjoyed playing with some of Dakota's old toys.  Here, Maddie plays with her Uncle Bobby.

The twins weren't the only ones all dolled up for the night; Dakota looked beautiful in her Christmas dress.

Can you believe that this girl will soon be SIX?!?

We took some pictures before losing the daylight. 

Dakota and her Mama



By the time that Matt joined Dakota and Sue on the couch, Dakota seemed to be growing tired of having her picture taken.

Sue and her Mama

Dakota was excited to show me the changes made to her room since the last time I visited, but she wasn't too happy that her room was chosen to be used for diaper changes.

Bobby and Matt tended to the drinks

Bobby and his Mama...and a margarita

Papparazzi

Jim grew antlers for the evening.

Maddie and Will were excited to receive Caillou figurines from their Grandma

Dakota's going to be busy building with all of the Legos that she received for Christmas!

Will and his reindeer Daddy

Malia and Bobby show off the hot sauces and jams that we gifted them.

My mom tried on her new headband, and my brother lovingly called her "Aunt Jemima"

We waited too long to get a picture of the four of us; this was the best we could do!

Me and my Mama

Maddie found the rapping dog that we had brought to a White Elephant exchange a couple years ago underneath one of the Christmas trees.  She liked it so much that we almost had to bring it home with us again!

Once we had returned home and the twins were nestled all snug in their beds, we were finally able to relax before waking up the next morning...to do it all over again!