Our holiday plans got lovingly shifted this year and so we decided to celebrate with the rest of the Washington Doyles on the eve before St. Nick came (you know, in order to accommodate our wonky travel schedule on Christmas day). The fabulous company, the delicious food, the holiday spirit, the warmth and coziness, and perhaps a present or two made the entire evening so enjoyable. The entire hustle and bustle, and any residual stress seemed to melt away with a little trip over the lake and through the woods of Issaquah to revel in Christmas spirit.
We all want to believe that Christmas is so much about the people and not the stuff and what we can offer of ourselves to others but you know what? It's actually true. It really, really is. It feels good to give and I'm pretty sure I beat that drum so often this year that Molly might actually believe it. While there was always a reliable chorus piping up about what he or she would really like on trips to the toy store, they were also both quite good about picking up stuff for other kids, some that we knew and some that we didn't. So while yes, Santa is popular around here and the sparkly paper under the tree called like a siren to the under four-footers, they also started (or hopefully, continued) their journeys to understanding that we want to celebrate the people in our lives out there in the bigger world, to celebrate those we see daily and perhaps also those who remain a bit hidden. And trying to instill these lessons always makes the teacher understand a little more, too. Gratitude and thankfulness and the love of family are year-round feelings but we can bring them into sharper focus during the holidays, I think. We can work to realize the subtle, perhaps disjointed ideas that we've been threading into our lives the other eleven months of the year. Working on these ideas is never an exercise in perfection (a goal I've long given up...), and there are always ways to improve. One thing I know for certain, however, is how much they already love their family. That nugget has been fully integrated it seems and it's sweet and nourishing and I hope it never changes.
Christmas eve smiles
Christmas eve uvulas
Apparently, a tie and sparkly sweater = the desire to pose for pictures
The cousin crush
Crafty times ahead in 2013
As well as a very handsome mustachioed man of mystery
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