Christmas Cousins

We saw the Paquette cousins briefly on Christmas day, but had the big family celebration on the 26th. We also snuck in a visit with the Payne cousins for brunch in the morning before everyone arrived:

 

Christmas 2022

Late morning Christmas presents with Grandma and Pop-pop

 

We finally got dressed in the early afternoon (in my case after Chris and Annmarie had come and gone)

Christmas dinner

It was also the last night of Hanukkah

Brian's Hat

I got a new book of knitting patterns to make hats based on the national parks. Brian asked for one of Mount Rainier, and I was happy to be able to finish it for him before we left for NY. The cousins came over the first night and he popped it right on:

Visiting with Lucy

Abby was able to meet up with one other friend before we headed up to NY. Even though she turned in her last final at 3pm that afternoon, Lucy invited Abby over for dinner and cookie baking. Her mom Ophelia sent this picture along, and then Abby texted us a picture of their cookie creations:

Last Hanukkahs at Home for 2022

We ended Hanukkah in NY this year, but I wanted to snap one more shot of the kids lighting the candles at home:

A Bit of Kindness

It is going to take a few days to catch up from break, so I'll start with a quick post. Before we left for NY, Abby met up with her friend Elisabeth at Kindness Café. Owner (and friend) Katie walked in with her daughter Kiran, who immediately joined the girls. Katie snapped a picture and texted it to us:

Holiday Gnomes

Holiday craft was on our December bucket list, and this one turned out really fun. We all loved the way the gnomes came out, so we are thinking they may live somewhere in the house full time and not just at the holidays:

I named her Bertie

This is Freya joining Bertie

Kevin did not name his, so we called him Osmond

And here's Merwin

Our gnome family