Creatures WERE Stirring...Even a Louse!

Ahhh...it is January.  And although January always brings with it the post-holiday let-down and the winter blahs, it also signals, at least for me, a chance to take a breath, settle back into a routine, and start anew. I love love LOVE Christmas, the whole Christmas season!  I eat up every minute of music-blaring, cookie-baking, gift-wrapping, tree-trimming, egg-nogging, Santa-schmoozing holiday fun that occurs between the end of November and January 6th (yes, I am a traditionalist).  But come January 7th, I am perfectly happy to return to life as usual.  What makes it easier to say goodbye to Christmas 2013?  To pack up the tree and switch off those easy listening stations we had blaring Christmas music 24:7?  Looking back on all the pictures and videos, reminiscing over all the laughs, and knowing it was just perfect.  God I love my family...the family I was born into, the family I married into, the family that marries into our family (godwilling...pretty please?... no pressure), and the family I have created.  There is never a dull moment with this lot, and having them all (minus a few very missed Sprungwells) together over the holidays makes me realize how very rich and spectacular they have made my life.  And so, on this January 3rd 2014, I look back on the whole Christmas season with a sense of warmth and satisfaction.  I am cozy and love-full.  With that, Christmas 2013...

I'll start with the Monday before Christmas...a little holiday concert and party at Adam's school.  I'll spare you the videos, but here are the tiny reindeer adorably stumbling through Rudolph.

The party was "hosted" by the preschoolers, so Adam served me gingerbread cookies, fruit salad, and applesauce he had prepared.  It was a sweet celebration with my littlest guy.

Fast forward to Tom and Sue's holiday party, which truly kicked off the holiday season.  This party is always a blast, with fabulous food and raucous caroling to boot.  This year's party was made even more fun by Noni and Papi, Uncle Pauly and Lori's attendance.

Adam and I fell asleep on the couch mid-caroling.  It was THAT GOOD of a party.  

One down...

And two down (Ben's faking)

And then suddenly Christmas was upon us!  We had a lovely Hungarian meal to celebrate Christmas Eve, before partaking in all the regular night-before-Christmas activities.

Reading their new book from Mom and Dad

Writing a note to Santa (no, we don't allow Ethan to drink Winter Warmer) 

More notes and treats for Santa

I looked up and this was happening...apparently someone told the boys that throwing gobs of oatmeal in the snow would attract Santa's reindeer 

We added a new twist to Santa note-writing this year, each leaving a question for Santa.  Some of the questions were real doozies (e.g., "How do you feel about the Affordable Care Act?") and provided ample fodder for laughs over Christmas cocktails the next day.

Reading before bed.  Adam takes Christmas Eve very seriously.

And after allowing us to sleep to a somewhat decent hour, the boys (and all the rest of us) had a magical Christmas morning.

Santa came! 

Stocking explosion

Showing Daddy the photo book they made him

Just a few of the boys' favorite gifts...

A Patriots football from Daddy

New, wrong-sized bikes (silly Santa!) hidden in the basement (clever Santa!) and several new costumes for Adam

Crazy shark and dino bike helmets from Noni and Papi

The party continued when Grandma and Grandpa showed up for Christmas dinner and fun with the grandkids.  Fun with the grands was a recurring theme throughout the Christmas week.

We even got out for a night with Uncle Pauly and Lori courtesy of a couple of our Super-Grands (aka Noni and Papi).  No pictures necessary (or advisable) to document the fun we had in Portland...

The Magyar clan left for various exciting adventures on Friday morning, and we Stockwells headed over to Tom and Sue's the following day for more wintry holiday fun.  Susan, Dan, and kids joined us for a couple of days of sledding, skating, and walking through the snow barefoot.

No, really.  These five decided it would be a great idea to walk barefoot through the snow for several hundred yards with the promise of a hot tubby waiting.  Look at their smiles!  They must not be able to feel their feet.

Building grand snow forts

Cousin pile-up at Bill and Sara's sledding party

Ladies' snowmobile tour - so much fun!

Beautiful Maine winter days

Re-finding our skating legs

Love this shot!

This Christmas also marked Adam's first without Horsey.  He went missing at Grandma and Grandpa's party, and was quickly replaced with Uni (thanks Auntie Gwen!).  For better or worse, Horsey was rediscovered this past weekend, so Adam now totes around Horsey, Pillow Pet, AND the very large Uni.  Not sure if we've gained or lost, but we have a happy little equine lover.

And by now you're probably wondering what the heck the title of this post is all about!  Well, in addition to all the gifts and joy Santa bestowed upon us this Christmas, it appears that he also blessed us with a case of head lice.  We've only spotted the little buggers on Ethan, but we're treating the whole family just in case.  So we're having some wild and crazy hair parties around these parts.  Oh the joys of parenthood!  

Happy 2014 friends!