The Columbia Zoo
Taking down and putting away the Christmas decorations is something I dread. We anticipate the Christmas season all year long, and I'm amazed at how quickly it comes and goes. That's how it is with our time with Bill and Shirley as well. It's our tradition to spend the week after Christmas with Brad's family. I truly believe that my children look forward to this just as much as they anticipate Christmas morning. For a full eight days we eat, play games, stay up until two in the morning talking, sleep in late, go out to dinner, go to fun places, the cousins run in a pack, and we basically have a life of pure leisure.
We like to tease Bill and Shirley not to miss us too much after we leave!
Cozette posing with Bill and Shirley.
She has commented several times this week she misses her Grandma and Grandpa.
We were driving out of Atlanta on Christmas day as it started to snow. It arrived in Columbia the next morning. I do need to mention that my parents and Nikki were in Alabama with Quincy's family. They woke up to the most beautiful blanket of snow on Christmas morning. Mom said she has never seen anything like it.
A little snow bunny.
Kayleigh and MaryFaith
Posing with Lindsay, Caroline, and Kate.
Our Arizona cousins.
Waiting to be seated at Hudson's BBQ.
Getting ready for the New Year's Eve party.
Trust me, they are serious party animals!
Cozette and Kate eating their New Year's Eve chocolate pudding.
Have you ever seen a tastier looking party platter?
The cousins prepare all week for the New Year's Eve party. This party is serious business. They send out formal invitations that require an RSVP. They plan the party menu which includes, an assortment of their favorite candy, nachos and cheese dip, and Aunt Meredith's delicious homemade caramel corn. I think I ate the most of that. The evening includes entertainment, games, eating, and dancing. We look forward to their singing and dancing performances. We even had a little friendly competition this year.
My accident did not stop them!
Little Lindsay challenged Everett to a push-up competition. She is as big as a peanut. She blew us all away when she did about 50 push-ups! I don't know how she did it.
I am healing very quickly. The bruising and swelling is gone for the most part. The bandage is still under my eye. Every day I look a little bit better. It still perplexes me that it happened. The irony is that I raced Everett at our park about two months ago. I slowed down towards the end of the race, because I was afraid that I was going to fall on the paved trail. That is why we planned to race again. We thought the grassy courtyard was the perfect place for a safe race.
I simply forgot to consider the sidewalk at the end.
My children have already started talking about this summer with the family.
Happy New Year.
2 comments:
Wow, you have such a wonderful extended family. It is special to see peeks into bill and Shirley's home and your time with them. Such a fun, cute group of cousins. And, like usual, I can't believe how big Kayleigh and Everett are. I love little Cozette cutie!
You summed it up well - a week of leisure! Too bad my kiddos and husband were sick - but we all had a great time nonetheless. WE LOVE spending the week after Christmas with everyone - I just don't know the what that crew of kids would cook up if we lived close together - but I bet it would be one fun party after another!
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