Return to Normalcy

Sometimes when the holidays are over, the best way to describe them is to say that you survived them. On the surface, I wouldn't say that this year. I really enjoyed every moment of the holidays. Being Julia's first, they were probably more special to Courtney and I then they have ever been. But the reality is that in reflecting about everything that we've done over the last 3 weeks, surviving is the best description.

We had a quiet Christmas Eve dinner consisting of a beef loin roast, twice baked potatoes and asparagus, followed by Christmas lunch at the Jones'. And I must say that the lunch was a great idea. You see, Ma Jones is a heck of a cook (just look at pictures of me from when Courtney and I started dating) and when we are there for dinner, you always overeat and that ride home gets rough. With lunch, I still overate, but there was time to relax and let it settle before getting in the car.

All the cousins on Courtney's side of the family love them some Julia. Little Emma (excuse me, BIG...sorry Emma) is always talking to her and playing with her and every time you turn around it seems that either Ellie or Anna are holding her. Julia seems to love them all and never seems to fuss with any of them.

And there were lots of presents for all the kids...big and small...to be opened. I'm not sure whose idea it was, but it was decided to open gifts one by one this year. I thought it was great to see the looks on the kids faces as they opened all their gifts. In years past, everyone opened at once and while it was over quickly, I think the new way works better now that the kids are getting a bit older and are more responsive to the gifts they get. All except Julia...she's got a few years to go before anyone should have to watch her open gifts. Now give her a bow and you'll see a big ol' smile!

After Christmas, we reunited LBJ (click here if you don't know what LBJ is)...FOR A WEEK! Boy was that fun! The ear infection that seemed to plague Ben during his last visit a couple weeks prior (yes Julia, Auntie Liz is clinically insane) has been cured and his spirits were up. Luke was Luke...simply one of the coolest little kids I've ever met...in moderation. You see, you reach a point with Luke that he will drive you nuts if you can't hand him off for a bit (this might explain Auntie Liz's insanity). And Julia has taken to those two boys so well.

She'll sit on the floor and play with Ben and she thinks Luke is hysterical. We had Luke sleep in the spare room off of Julia's bedroom. One morning I wake up to the sound of little running footsteps and Julia's laughter. When I opened the door to the room I saw Luke who had just run across the room and done a belly flop onto the air mattress looking at me with Julia in her crib, propped up on all fours (as if to get a better look at Luke's stunts) laughing hysterically at everything Luke did.

Unfortunately I did have to work a little during the week. This time of year is important budget and planning time (and the office is quiet to get things done) and I was still involved a little bit with the holiday basketball tournament. I've handed off most duties, but the tournament is one of the largest in the country and I felt I should be there to show support...and referee a couple games!

But work didn't stop us from spending some real quality time with the CT family. Liz and Courtney brought the kids to some games of the tournament and tried to teach Luke the defense chant. This is a skill that he will have to master later in life.

Then we reached Liz's birthday. The girls decided that they would play a mean trick on the guys and dump the kids on us for a day and go shopping. Nate and I immediately called in reinforcements...codename Uncle Louie (Mr. Richardson to Nate's boys). Little did the girls know that the joke was on them. All three kids slept for about 95% of the time that the girls were gone! So the guys sat around playing rock band 2.

And that brings us to this week. Julia has returned to daycare and Courtney and I are back to work...life is normal again. As fun as the holidays were, it feels good to spend a rainy night blogging after putting my little princess to bed and having a nice quiet dinner with my sweetheart.

I'll never forget Julia's first Christmas and maybe with the help of this blog, she won't either!