Celebrating Christmas 2024, Part 2

A few weeks ago, my family drove down from Minnesota to celebrate Christmas with us, and to meet Arlo! (I shared some about how we celebrated Christmas with Nicholas' immediate family in this previous post). My parents and my brother, Matt, arrived on a Saturday afternoon. We had grass-fed beef taco bowls with all the fixings for dinner that evening.

On Sunday, we went to our church's early service, and then headed back home. We exchanged Christmas gifts amongst each other. So many thoughtful gifts! One of my favorites included tiny handmade felt mitten ornaments, one for each of our boys, from my parents, and a quilt for Arlo, similar to ones each of his brothers have received when they were born. My parents also gave us some other handmade items from their church's craft fair, including a soy candle and a beautiful sign. My brother gave each of the big boys some globe lights, and they were a hit as well.

We spent the rest of Sunday at home, working on a puzzle my family brought, taking turns holding Arlo (my dad held him for a 3-hour nap!), and eating leftovers for lunch. My mom made us dinner – a creamy chicken and rice dish in the crockpot that was delicious. The boys played with some new toys (and Lego sets), worked on puzzles, and read books that my mom brought. Cooper and my brother Matt spent a long time paging through a book all about different kinds of rocks (opal was a favorite, if I remember correctly).

That evening, when Cooper and Finn were asleep, the rest of us spent the evening talking about nostalgic foods we ate growing up, among other things. And we talked about how my brother and I would bike to a local "hostess discount bakery" with a few dollars to pick out a treat sometimes (my brother often got honey buns and I preferred the HoHos). I can't imagine buying those foods now, but it is a very nostalgic childhood memory!

Monday morning, we had breakfast and coffee, and worked some more on the puzzle. Nicholas took the two bigger boys outside to play, and my family walked around, taking a look at the landscaping we had installed in the summer.

And the boys built a fort on the bunk bed, utilizing the new globe lights, and of course inviting their favorite stuffed animals to take part.

Some of my favorite moments of this visit:

• Cooper and my brother pouring over some special rocks my brother gave him (agates! fossils! Cooper loves rocks).
• My dad wore the hat I knit for him for hours on Sunday (and my mom sent me a photos of her wearing hers the other day! My parents are so appreciative of handmade things).
• Cooper and my mom worked on some crafts my mom brought (another favorite of his)
• My mom folded laundry and completely reorganized our linen closet, which needed some TLC (thank you, Mom! She loves organizing and I know she loves me too).
• Receiving some new handmade potholders and scrunchies that my mom sewed for me.
• Seeing Cooper and Finn's excitement over being with my family.

It was a wonderful visit celebrating Christmas and also the arrival of the little Arlo. We love you guys, thank you for coming to see us!