This past week, we have been privileged to spend Andrew's first Christmas with my Mom in Michigan. It has been a wonderful week - unhurried time with family, without the stress of going back to work anytime soon. In fact, when we leave tomorrow, I will still have over a week of vacation until going back to work on Jan 9th. Wow!
We arrived two days before Christmas, and scrambled a bit to get some last-minute Christmas gift/projects done. But once Christmas Eve rolled around, it was all about spoiling Andrew with everything an (almost) 8 month old could hope for - paper, plastic, and colorful toys piling up on the floor in easy reach of little, drool-covered hands.
So what other fun things did we do in town? Well, Christmas Day we traveled over to my cousins house in Birmingham to see the extended Allmen family. That is a good recipe for good food, plenty of drink, and some laughs. We entertained Becca, who had been in Chicago with us previously. She got to visit Michigan for the first time and see a little of what Detroit has to offer. We played Xbox Kinect for the first time (I can't dance as well as Matt?) and had a fun game night.
It was the first Christmas in Michigan in which I was not at Commons Ct; but it was just fine. I like Mom's condo and so it makes for a nice new home away from home for us.
I have met some Christians who have poo-pooed Christmas for its commercialization; and while I can understand the danger of presents overpowering the celebration of the birth of Christ, I appreciate how the holiday's traditions bring focus to the importance of family. Thank you Allmens (and Millers!) for a wonderful Christmastime!
-alan
We arrived two days before Christmas, and scrambled a bit to get some last-minute Christmas gift/projects done. But once Christmas Eve rolled around, it was all about spoiling Andrew with everything an (almost) 8 month old could hope for - paper, plastic, and colorful toys piling up on the floor in easy reach of little, drool-covered hands.
Andrew, still wearing his dress clothes, sits in awe in front of Grandma's present-laden Christmas tree. Definitely overwhelming!
Yummy presents!
He did not have a lot of present-unwrapping stamina. So Rachel stepped in and opened a lot of packages in his place. She did not complain too much about this extra Mommy responsibility...
On Christmas morning, Andrew awoke to yet ANOTHER present-laden tree. In his more appropriate Christmas PJs, he tore into a few more gifts. Paper is even yummier than boxes!
Grandma got him an awesome soft car, complete with string. The string is meant for pulling the car, but for now Andrew is content to munch on the string as he fingers the pig (in pink) in the back of the truck.
So it is not all about Andrew - Rachel also took part in some Christmas morning kid-like grins as she got some spiffy new clothes.
Returning from church (thus the change of clothes!) Andrew helped his Mom and Dad to open some more gifts.
And as the youngest Allmen, he got to play in the piles of wrapping paper once the gift opening was all complete.
Can't wait to put that cool new sign on our house!
Grandma, Andrew, and Dad posing by the tree.
And when all the hard work of opening presents and smiling at relatives is done, some power naps are a must. Andrew slept long and hard all week!
So what other fun things did we do in town? Well, Christmas Day we traveled over to my cousins house in Birmingham to see the extended Allmen family. That is a good recipe for good food, plenty of drink, and some laughs. We entertained Becca, who had been in Chicago with us previously. She got to visit Michigan for the first time and see a little of what Detroit has to offer. We played Xbox Kinect for the first time (I can't dance as well as Matt?) and had a fun game night.
It was the first Christmas in Michigan in which I was not at Commons Ct; but it was just fine. I like Mom's condo and so it makes for a nice new home away from home for us.
I have met some Christians who have poo-pooed Christmas for its commercialization; and while I can understand the danger of presents overpowering the celebration of the birth of Christ, I appreciate how the holiday's traditions bring focus to the importance of family. Thank you Allmens (and Millers!) for a wonderful Christmastime!
-alan
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