Big picture post of Christmas

I really lucked out in the family department, and lately I give more and more thanks for that. We're certainly not perfect, and we have our moments, but overall, we do quite smashingly and genuinely enjoy each others company. I think all these years of all this distance has changed our dynamic (obviously), and I wonder what would happen if we were ever in driving ranges, but for now, our marathon crazy fast an furious 10 day reunions are wonderful. I come home exhausted from cramming 6 months of living into a week, but it's worth it.

I particularly loved watching Oliver become so comfortable with everyone. By day 2 he was running into my mom's bedroom to play in her big rocking chair, or climbing OUT of my lap to go sit with my dad. He learned all the names:
Grandma = Aa ma
Pops = Ahh
Gretchen = ehh ehh
Ricky - Icky
Laura = Lala
Louisa = Baby Zaza

It was a treat to watch him receive so much love and attention from people who I know adore him almost as much as I do, and who want to help us and be a real player in his growth and development. I saw new sides to him, he learned new words, he became the "big kid" compared to LJ, and he genuinely loved being in California for Christmas. I am blessed.

I do think we need to work on cramming less into the break, so we're not all so worn out, but it's hard to know what to cut!