Our 12 Days of Christmas

According the the Church, the Christmas season only just begins on Christmas Day and continues for the next 12 days until the Epiphany. This is why many, us included, choose to leave decorations up until January 6th. It will be sad (and a challenge with an anti-nap, refluxing baby) to take our decorations down tomorrow.

We didn't do anything official to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, but we did spend lots of quality time with family until New Year's. All of my sisters (and hubbies) were here to spend time with us at some point during the break. It was so much fun introducing them to Jude for the first time.

And guess who else was here?

Asher Basher! Too bad Eli came down with his first case of strep throat (lovingly given to him on Christmas by his dear Aunt Ann) on Asher's first day here. Eli was quarantined and wasn't allowed to play. He was pretty pitiful, but the antibiotics (his first ever!) kicked in fast and he rallied. By the next day, he was good to go. Yay for medicine!

Eli's new bike has been a little frustrating at times for him to get the hang of,

so he would rather ride his big wheel instead. And Asher didn't mind giving it up. He preferred the plasma car.

He decided that it made a better truck and ended up pushing it around instead of riding on it. Then it was time for a walk down the road to find the horses and goats.

The boys loved watching the animals, and Jude was a champ and napped in the sling the entire time. The silly baby doesn't like to be put down too much. And what visit with cousins would be complete without trying to get both boys to look at the camera at the same time?

I did not even attempt to get all three cousins. Probably should have tried. Instead, this is the best one we got of the visit.

We loved having family in town. It is always sad when it is time for them to go, but we know that they will be back again soon.