christmas week

this year was the first year dan and i have spent christmas in burnsville. we started off our marriage by spending christmas separate in order for both of us to see family that we only get to see once a year. as time went on and children were discussed we started spending christmas together. the past two years we have spent in new york with dan's family and this year we decided on burnsville. this was bitter sweet because it was dan's first christmas in 39 years away from his family, but the burnsville family was eagerly awaiting our arrival.



we started our festivities by picking up uncle matthew from the airport on the 22nd. he had not seen donovan since he was almost three months and lots has changed since then. we all headed to burnsville on the 23rd and got there just in time for dinner. donovan does not particularly like riding in the car, but this trip uncle matthew sat in the back seat to entertain both donovan and buck.....the first of our christmas gifts!

christmas eve traditions in my family have changed over the years due to matthew and myself not being home for christmas. our church has a candle light service in the evening, and my parents have invited people to our house after the service for food, drink and fellowship for the past few years. we were able to spend some time with people that we do not often get to see, and of course let donovan's extended family show him off.

christmas morning was perfect. the only thing that could have made it more perfect would have been for donovan to understand how cool this christmas morning really was. we woke up to a perfectly falling big fluffy flaked white christmas that lasted for the next 2 days! we opened gifts while snacking on breakfast and watching the snow in my parents brand new sun room....which is not sunny but is filled with big windows. donovan was way more into the paper and boxes than his gifts, but he did play with the pictures of children on his toy boxes. i think he thought he got children for christmas. later that day we headed to my granny's for a big turkey dinner--upon granny's request--complete with china and christmas dishes. we spent the evening walking in the snow with donovan, and eating, and opening presents, and eating.

sunday we had plans to go to my dad's parents in anderson, sc, but because of the snow we were unable to make it. this was a bummer because this was the first year in a long time that everyone was going to be there, and donovan was going to get to hang out with his two baby cousins. bummer. instead we had a lazy day at home trying to get matthew's flight changed since the weather was also keeping us from getting back to charlotte.

monday morning we were up bright and early to get back to charlotte for matthew's flight. it was still snowing on the 10"+ we already had and the first 30 minutes of the drive was hairy. we made it home safe and sound with that mixed feeling of glad to be home and unpacked, but sad that family was leaving and donovan's first christmas is over. the good news is that pops and bammie will be here in a couple of days!