Christmas Eve 2017

This is my favorite time of Christmas: everyone else is asleep, the house is quiet, all the presents are wrapped (and assembled, if necessary) and under the tree, and all that is left is to take pictures.

Reading The Night Before Christmas.  Luke and Naomi had zero interest.  Maybe next year for them (we seem to say that a lot, about a lot of things!).

I didn't hear a clatter, but Santa seems to have been and gone.  Looks like he (and his reindeer) were in a hurry and only took nibbles.  Or maybe they're already full of cookies and carrots.

We started setting presents out last night.  Luke and Naomi ignored them until left unsupervised for about 5 minutes (amazing how much paper two 2-year olds can rip in 5 minutes!).  Another thing that might be better next year...

No fireplace in this house, either, but it does have a nice bannister that makes a good place to hang stockings.

Merry Christmas 2017!

The family came and had lunch with me a few days ago, and we wrapped up with a trip to the student union to see the giant Christmas tree and the kid-size gingerbread house.

The house is made by one of the Purdue chefs every year, and it is all real gingerbread and frosting (except for the plywood frame).

Thanksgiving 2017

This was the first year we had our own family Thanksgiving at home (except for the first year we were married, after which I concluded it was much less work to share in a large family Thanksgiving!).

Abbey made placemats for everyone, with a verse...

...or some other saying

Almost ready!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Abbey was very excited to help with the cooking and baking!

Post-Thansgiving

Jericho got some too!

Mommy and Abbey didn't have to do it all.

Mommy and Abbey worked hard.