The holidays are officially over. Whew! It is so great to go and be with family and even better to be back at home. Ryker seemed to enjoy opening presents (at least the first one or two). He got entirely too much stuff. We appreciate everything that people bought him but I think next year we will have to put a limit on things or we will have to live in the yard. We spent Christmas night at Meme's house and so that Santa would not forget about us we left him a note telling him where we were. He found us with no problem. Santa is important to Ryan and I because we feel like children have to grow up so fast, they need something sweet and innocent to believe in. This quote says it best:
"Yes, Virginia , there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."
I recited this when I was in elementary school and I still love it. So, after we opened presents from Santa at Meme's house we went to the DeCosta Christmas. We ate way too much and let the kids open more presents. Later, we opened a few private present between sisters (we also found out we will be getting a new addition to the family in July... Melita is expecting again! YAY!)and then Ryker and I headed over to Uncle Donnie's house. There Ryker opened more presents and visited with Papa and Amma. Sometime during this crazy schedule we got to visit with Aunt Sonja and her family and see Angel (even though she didn't bring Kate to play). Ryan had to come back to Augusta on Christmas night because he had to work the next day:(
Shortly after getting home we decided to un-decorate the house so that Ryker could have plenty of room just in case he decided to start crawling. He hasn't started yet but he is definitely thinking about it. We had a VERY mellow New Year's Eve which ended around 10:30 pm when everyone in the house was asleep. Oh well! Maybe next year we will make it. We got up bright and early on New Year's Day and started cooking. We had a feast. Allison Laakso aka Cookie came over to celebrate with us. Again, we ate to much!
I love the holidays and look forward to them every year but they are so exhausting! I think next year travel may be a little easier:) Welcome 2011! Can't wait to see what you have to offer:)
