our holidays at home - on-hand modern

These days between Christmas and New Year's have been really joyful, corny as that sounds. More than anything, it has to do with being together as a family, and that sounds even cornier. But it's true. When the family is whole and both parents are home, the tone of our days is different. I don't know quite how to describe it--more relaxed, content maybe? All I know is it's nice having The Engineer around during daylight hours. His presence here at home has a stabilizing/comforting effect. There is opportunity for more one-on-one time with the children, and for stolen moments by one's self (without guilt...mostly).

These are the days I am content to stay holed up at home and be...completely ordinary. Read, play board games, watch movies, wear stretchy pants, eat. Oh yes, eat. K and the kids are mostly content to do the same, except when they aren't. And then?there they are, coaxing me out of hermit-mode and into the world for a bit of family adventure. We have been to Union Station and to the art museum. Such outings are so much easier with two parents, one of whom is NOT pregnant and big as a house, and once again I'm so grateful to be together for a few days.

Some random bits:

- Peanut butter blossoms are still my favorite Christmas cookie, and the only ones we made this year.

- I'm always on the lookout for fun family board games. Qwirkle is a definite keeper. Good for ages 5 and up.

- Les Mis--I liked it very much.

- I accomplished a long-standing goal and learned how to do a braided crown on Olivia. (See photos. It's not as hard as it looks.)

- I had a birthday.

- I really hope my mother-in-law sends me some of her homemade divinity this week.

- More random bits on Instagram: @cee_dee_oh

Thanks for reading here. I mean that reallytrulysincerely. Wishing you and yours a happy New Year.

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Source: http://onhandmodern.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/12/our-holidays-at-home.html

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