On the Road Again

On the road once again.  Christmas is over and we must once again return to DC-- an 11 hour drive back to reality.  Sigh..... 

Applecookie

One Day, Baby Applecookie will hate that I have taken all these photos of her in her old man pjs and her hair ribbon, but my defense will be: how could I resist such CUTENESS??!!!  She put on the ribbon after opening presents and continued putting it on for the rest of her visit.

Taylor Christmas in Photos

Christmas Crackers

The Taylors Christmas Table

Merry Christmas!

Daddo gets his own....

....Stilton Scoop!

Delicious!

Brando waiting for Santa

Hugs for Mommy

The kiddos waiting to open presents

Applecookie

Stirling meeting Django (the D is silent)

Candy cane place settings

We Three Brothers-in-law

Daddo and Mambo

The Chef

New Parents to be!

The Jester

Caroline's first cake! Beautiful and delicious!

Santa Vader

Listening to the "Twas the Night before Christmas" as read to us by Annabelle and Juliette

Unwrapping gifts!

Hearth Cricket for good luck in 2013

Straw Glasses

Chloe loving the handmade soft scarf from Aunt Kristie!

A new video game

The Kids Table... Daddo's assigned seat!

Stocking hung by the chimney with care.

Chloe and Vivi

Ruuuuuuum Punch

Brando with GAS: Great Aunt Sharon

crackers on the tree

Christmas Decorations

 My parents' house at Christmas is always decorated for Christmas, with every room having some holiday decoration to celebrate the season.  Every nook and crany, hanging service or bookshelf has a Santa, an angel, or past Christmas card from one of us.  It is always  nice to be home for the holidays.  One of the best decorations: our stockings.  Too many to hang by the fireplace, Mom displays from the "bridge".  And the space in the middle is for the unfinished stocking for Baby Applecookie (it should be done in a matter of hours). 

My stocking and my siblings were made by my Aunt Carol.  Mom has made all the rest.  And as the family keeps growing, she will continue to sew more Santas, presents, and snowmen, all sequenced and done up with a bow.  If only they would face to the right to balance out! 

S

The main tree (there are several, you see) is in the front hall and covered with gorgeous ornaments.  This year, the silver sparkly pine cone stood out to me.  It was just so sparkly!  And underneath was piled with presents, mainly for the little kids, but I think I saw my name under there once or twice....

It will be a lovely holiday, regardless of the gifts, as it is just nice to be home in Kentucky.  Merry Christmas everyone! 

A royal calendar

It may not have any chocolate or mini gifts behind each window, but this is my favorite Advent calendar in year. It's Buckingham Palace (Annabelle and Juliette got Windsor Castle). It is quite fun and adds a *bit* more British feeling to this holiday.

The completed product

A few baubles

Every year, Mom & Dad gives us ornaments. This year, Will got:



and I got:



but here are some of my favorites, some supplied by my parents, others by Fiona, and still others souvenirs from various trips: