the holidays

I am completely savoring the holidays. Although Christmas is over, I just don't feel ready to end the season, mostly because I am having such a nice time with Ben off! We don't remember the last time he had this much time away from work and I am really enjoying it. The entire week so far has just been so nice that I wish it could keep going and going!

Our family Christmas last Friday night was just what I hoped it would be. We decorated Christmas cookies, opened presents from one another, and read Christmas books together. Saturday morning was a bit hectic (as preparing for long trips away usually are for us), but we hit the road by lunchtime and the rest of the week has been easy and relaxed.

Decatur was full of wonderful family time. Some thoughts from our trip that still have me smiling are-

• Ben's "toot toot"during the Brain Game and the laughter it caused
• Wingard babies in red Santa hats
• watching the kids so carefully sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn
• Luke giving Sam, Joe, & Will many, many hugs
• lots of time to sit in the Hedenberg kitchen talking and drinking wine
• having the Hedenbergs and Kennedys together on Christmas eve and Christmas night- Can I say again how lucky I feel that my two families get along so well?
• Gracie and Luke's excitement on Christmas morning
• Bridget's wonderful cookies
• Gracie's squeal of excitement over each and every gift she got
• getting to see a movie at the theatre (this rarely happens for me anymore!)
• Gracie saying that it was good that we saw Kari and baby Taylor on Christmas because "Christmas is a time to be with your family."
• a Christmas day nap with Luke

These are just a few of the many, many happy memories we made this Christmas. Thanks again, everyone, for making it such a nice holiday. We love you all!

Gracie and Luke stayed in Decatur with Gram and Grandpa for a couple of days, so Ben and I are enjoying a 48 hour date! We had a fun day together moving at an adult pace...spending our gift cards, eating great food at Maggianos (thanks, Patti, for the gift card!), sleeping in, unpacking...we are both so relaxed. Life without kids is completely different! :) We are looking forward to seeing a movie tonight (two in one week?!?), setting up our new iPods (thanks, Patti!) and I think I'm going to get a little scrapbooking done. I love to be a night owl when I have the chance, and since there will be no one climbing in bed with me tomorrow morning at 6:45, I can stay up as late as I'd like. Thank you, Gram and Grandpa, for all of the fun Gracie and Luke are having right now!