Burning through the last of our Christmas candles...

Aren't you?  I mean, they never smell as good the next year, plus using precious storage space to pack them away?  Please.  And that wintery, juniper tree smell?  That still jives with my January, so I've been lighting what's left of those guys all month.

I think I justified procrastinating posting Christmas pictures because firstly, it is no longer December (somebody had to tell you), and secondly, if my Christmas candles weren't burnt out, then neither was a post about Christmas.  It's a very mathematical equation, but in the end, I'm glad I waited.  Why?  Because January is boring.  Like, damn boring.   So I'll do us both a favor and rewind to a festive season, full of presents, houses wrapped with multi-colored lights, hot apple cider, and the smell of cinnamon...because, you know.  My Christmas candles are almost burnt out.

Lincoln and I flew back from California on Christmas Eve, so we could spend Tyson's one day off work, as a family.  Since my parent's house was never warmer than 60 degrees each night, Lincoln slept in bed with me while we visited, making our first night back home filled with Lincoln yelling "Moooom!!!  Bed!" into the video monitor.  So. Much. Fun.

Once we woke up Christmas morning, about to open presents in pajamas (who doesn't?), there was a knock at the door.  Naturally, I fled the scene (although I do rock snowflake thermal leggings), while Tyson and Lincoln answered the door to find Tyson's entire family on our porch.  Surprise!  And they even brought dinner.

By the time they left that evening, we were so exhausted we considered opening presents the next day, but ended up tearing through everything...because are we really so old we would choose sleep over presents?  Never!   Then Lincoln gave us a Christmas present by sleeping through the entire night, in his own bed.  And Oh. Holy. Night.  An entire night, sleeping in my own spacious bed?  It was the best gift ever.