A Very Laney Christmas

This year Atticus and I started out the Christmas season with a last minute trip to Texas.  Flying by the seat of our pants, we set out on a week and a half adventure with my sister's four children.

We just love these kiddos.  There were many tender moments during our stay:

 

We also tried to make each day special by doing the 12 Days of Christmas, photo style.  Here's what we came up with:

On the First Day of Christmas, my true loves gave to me:

The Kids in a Nativity.

 2 Group Hugs

 3 Cheesy Grins

Cards with nice words

5 Random Things

  

6 People Playing

7 Races Winning

 Tiny Helpers Helping

One Baby Dancing

Little Laneys Leaping

Eleven(ty Billion) Bums for wiping

All the Drummers Drumming

Here's us singing the first few verses:

So we really tried to have a good time, and we often succeeded.

I would be lying, however, if I said it was easy.  Every single day there was drama, messes, and poop.  Lots and lots of poop.  That happens when you have two 2-year-olds and additional obstacles to overcome.

I'll spare you the poop examples, but here's just one example of the drama that I think you'll enjoy.   You know that cute Nativity photo we took?  Here's everything that happened before hand:

First off, our angel not only did NOT want to hold her star or wear her wings,

but she also felt the need to save (kidnap!) our Baby Jesus doll.

This upset poor Mary to the point that she no longer wanted to participate, which meant that I had to step in as Mary.  Joseph was more than a little exasperated.  Our Shepherd, however, was quite amused by the whole scene.

Finally, Atticus offered to step in as a much older Baby Jesus, on the condition that he got to hold his water gun and point it at the camera.

So it all turned out, in the end.  It was a perfect, awkwardfamilyphotos nativity.   And I guess that's how I could describe the week and a half.  It was perfectly, awkwardly awesome.

Here's a little more of our awesome, awkward action:

 #lighttheworld with the kiddos.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had an initiative this year that we loved- trying to be a little more like Jesus in 25 ways on 25 days.  On this particular day we donated some clothing at Salvation Army and ended up having some fun in the store, while we were at it.

Gingerbread men decorating

The Nutcracker with Ellie

We even spent a couple afternoons at the park:

They even made my birthday special cookie cutter pancakes with a birthday pancake.  I thought it was adorable.

There were tickle fights and movies, eggs in a hole and smoothies.  The shenanigans were fun sometimes and often not so fun.  It only took a day or two for me to feel the weight that my dear sister has to carry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I can't begin to express my love and gratitude for her (and all moms with multiple children, for that matter!)  I have so much admiration for their strength, fortitude, patience and determination.  

As you can imagine, Atticus and his momma were spent by the end.  Here he is when he passed out on the airplane ride to Utah.  

We miss our Laneys, but we certainly did have a joyful reunion with Bobba at the airport!

Until our next get together, Laney Crew!