Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

Phew.  It has been a BUSY holiday season.  After Vivi's first birthday, several Christmas celebrations, and New Year's, I'm plumb tuckered out, folks.

It was a bit of a relief dropping Maddie Bear off at school this morning.  Time to get back into a routine.  Time to get the house back to normal.  Time to stop eating so much damn food.  Seriously, Summer...put down the truffles.  There is a perfectly good container of chickpeas in the refrigerator.  Eat them.  

Christmas morning was pretty awesome this year.  Madeline is now old enough to really get it, and the holiday is pure magic for her.  

We weren't sure how Vivi would react, but she had a lot of fun too.  She loves opening presents.  She sat next to Madeline, curious to see what was in each and every box. 

There was no whining, crying, or fighting.  Nobody got bored or overwhelmed.  There was just joy, presents, and cinnamon rolls.  (Cheerios for Vivi.  Sorry, Bubba.) 

My parents came over for dinner later in the afternoon, and we had a pretty relaxing day stuffing our faces and playing with the girls.  

We packed up and headed down to New York the next day for a second Christmas.  

While we were there, we brought the girls to visit the Museum of Natural History.  Madeline was frightened of just about every room we passed.  Dinosaur bones?  Nope. Taxidermy?  Not her thing.  Giant model sea creatures?  Girl wasn't buying it.  Outer space?  Too boring.  But the "Hall of Minerals"?  That one she liked.  Shiny rocks and jewels for the win!

We also stopped by Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree, but the mass of humanity was so dense that I didn't even try to take a picture.  Madeline didn't seem too impressed with the tree either.

She did enjoy the train ride though...

The rest of our visit was spent with family opening more presents, decorating cookies, playing with Nana and Pop, and of course, eating cupcakes.  (Vivi ate blueberries.  Sorry, Bubba.)

And finally, we celebrated our third, and final, Christmas this past weekend at my sister's house.  Madeline scampered off with her cousin as soon as we got there, and I didn't see her much for the rest of the night.  Vivi played shy before getting in on some more present opening.  And I drank my weight in martinis.  Overall, a successful Christmas had by all.

Cuties.

And I'm so grateful for our wonderful family.  We had a great Christmas...three times...and the girls now have enough toys and clothing to last them the rest of their natural lives.  Ho ho ho!