Holly and Jolly, 2021

Our pre-Christmas festivities included a trip to see the zoo lights. 

The sparking lights were pretty fun, 

and watching the red panda and the serval cat have the zoomies was pretty great, too.

This was the first year that all three kiddos participated in the same Christmas concert, but it was virtual. Craig and Calista sang and performed so well. Caleb... mostly just spun in circles rather than sang.

Of course, we put up the Christmas tree

and dressed in fancy clothes in front of it.

After we put up the Christmas tree, Caleb asked every day for weeks if it was Christmas - and Jesus' birthday - yet. And finally, Christmas came!

The kiddos absolutely loved their matching pj's.

They all said they were so soft and comfy. Plus, you can't really tell whose leg is whose. 

On Christmas morning, Calista woke up early and so she got to help make cinnamon ring roll, using her great-great-grandma's recipe.

I love passing on the tradition.

Our biggest Christmas present win: probably Craig's circuit set. 

The colors, light, and sounds were all a lot of fun for them to put together and switch on and off.

Our biggest Christmas present fail: probably Craig's "Don't Read This Book Before Bed."

It spooked him out too much and he couldn't read it at all, much less before bed.

After Christmas, we went and visited Kyler's family in Raymond. It was super cold, so we spent lots of time just hanging out, 

although we did have a family party that included Chinese food, piano and jokes, 

and generally mayhem and running around with cousins.

(The acoustics weren't great, what with the general chaos and the fact that the piano hasn't been tuned in a while. After we got home, we recorded their pieces in a more controlled setting. Enjoy.)

There were only a few times we got to go outside during the break: once for sledding and once on a walk. 

I'm pretty sure we regretted it sledding because the wind chill was still pretty nasty, but the walk was good. 

Even if the kiddos did keep trying to throw snowballs at me while I took their picture. 

The kiddos got a surprise extra week of vacation - thanks Covid - but it was still pretty cold out, so we spent a lot of time making crafts and food, 

going to the library, 

hanging out at home, 

and being silly together. 

All in all, not a bad way to spend a couple of weeks.