Katie and the Boys: Kirksville Christmas

Last but not least, we headed to Kirksville to celebrate with Nate's family.

It is so nice having his parents live up there too. The new house of theirs is very conducive to having company, and there is plenty of room for the kids to play. The basement is currently unfinished and PERFECT for the kids to play in, and we can shut the door to the mess. Makes it even better!

Andy and Emily went up on Christmas Eve, and we arrived about on Christmas. Since Mat had to work on Wednesday and Thursday, we decided to do presents as soon as we got there.

The kids dove into their stockings (nice job on those by Dorothy this year!). Opening the presents was pretty chaotic on all ends, but not as bad as it could have been or as bad as it has been in the past. The boys got some new games and some Imaginext knights, Z got some art supplies and a nerf gun. I got a new crockpot (yay!) and Nate got a vacuum sealer for something Lego related. And they all got lots of fun stocking stuffer toys too :)

But, as most can attest, spending time together was really the fun part. The boys are all old enough now that they don't HAVE to have much attention, especially with brothers/cousins around. Over the few days we were there, someone might play a game with them, get them set up with a craft, make them food, tell them no (or yes) when they asked for ANOTHER piece of candy...but they were actually pretty self sufficient. Mat brought over their Wii, and the boys (all of them) loved playing it. The big boys (the men, I suppose) played Settlers of Catan one night after the little boys all went to bed. The girls did some trip planning (family vacation in July!). I ate and ate and ate. We all had contributed and had quite a spread for the few days, resulting in not much prep work while we were all together, which was really wonderful. I was fully able to relax, which sounds crazy. But now that the boys are older it is easier for me to relax, and it has ALWAYS been better for me to relax away from home where there are no pressures of "I should be doing....".

We really had a great time :) The boys (all the kiddos) were so sad to all be parting ways, but we will see them again soon...

Uncle Andy taught the boys (L especially) how to make a surprised face. Thanks, Andy ;)

Swimming in Grandma's bathtub!

Sleep was NOT high on the priority list at Grandma's house. The boys were in bed over an hour and a half late every night, and up just as early, with no quiet time...totally fine, but they were tired! L passed out on me just before dinner time with all of us hanging out and talking in the living room. Poor thing.