The Good Life...: First Christmas!!

We traveled home to Michigan for Rece's First Christmas! He had his ear tubes put in on December 21st so I was a little worried about the travel in the event that something could get infected etc. But he did really good, in fact he was a pretty happy and healthy boy the whole time. We left late afternoon on December 23rd hoping Rece would be able to hang out for a few hours and then have dinner and head off to sleepy land for the last 4 or so hours of our drive. It pretty much worked, and we had great driving weather. We got to Jackson at midnight and put him to bed in a crib that my parents are borrowing from my Aunt Luann - he went right out again - until 5 am when he woke up wondering where in the world he was. I have to admit it was the first time since he was born that I have brought him into bed with us - I was sooooo tired, since we had gotten unloaded and to bed after 1am. He laid on my chest and slept another hour. Funny thing is - he moves so much - I didn't get any more sleep!

On Christmas Eve we went to Christmas Eve Children's Mass and he was fantastic - I was worried but he did really good. He was totally interested in the reading and singing and flirted with the girls next to him. He ate some puffs and had himself a great time. We came home and Rece went to bed and we all had some wine/beer & Pizza from Little Cesar's (Barton Tradition on Christmas Eve ;-)

Then came Christmas Day - Rece woke up at his normal early time and we opened presents, he did some paper tearing and some looking at the gifts....and....that was about it. He did however have a ball playing with the toys all week and since we have gotten home. Santa, Mommy and Daddy, Uncle Clint and Auntie Taylor, and Grandparents R & B, and so many others as well, were all very good to Mr. Rece. He got to many awesome toys to list and a whole new 18 month wardrobe for this winter. It was so much fun to see him play.

We had a great rest of the week at home, visiting with friends and family. Rece played and played and even went out in the sled. And Jeremy even got a chance to get away for a date night. All in All we ate to much, drank just the right amount, and had way to much fun throughout the whole week!!

We got back on Wednesday the 30th - and Jeremy's mom and dad came back to State College with us. The weather for the trip back was great and thankfully, Steve and Lynn caught a traffic alert on the radio that warned us of a horrible chemical spill and highway closure approaching on I-80. We stopped and got a map and made up a detour. After we got home we found out that the chemicals were horrible to breathe and people were evacuated and were not allowed out of cars or to roll their windows down and the highway was closed for HOURS!!! That would have been fun with a 10 month old.

On new years eve we went to the State College First Night Ice Sculptures - we got Rece all bundled up - but I don't think he cared for it so much - he was all trapped in the stroller with all of those bulky layers. Stink. As for ringing in the new year - of course a separate post to come on that. But we were in bed by 11 - and that my friends is staying up late!

OH MY - And I almost forgot - the last "event" of our winter break was...the first haircut.
His bangs were so long he couldn't see....I really didn't want to.

Here are pictures from our great, great week.