The rest of the holiday was lovely.  We played video games with my nephew, explored a beautiful new dollhouse with my niece, and helped Mike and Christi pack a bit.  The whole family worked on a jigsaw puzzle together for days.  Paul and I went back to Williamsburg for an evening visit with torch-light, fife-and-drum bands, and caroling.  The Virginia Beach boardwalk was lined with outrageous holiday light displays, and the hotel room had a jacuzzi.  Merry Christmas!
 

Back at home, there was time to clean house, re-stock the cupboards, visit with friends, and snuggle up on the couch to watch tv with lil’ e.  Paul and I managed to stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve – just barely! – by watching more episodes of Breaking Bad.  The knitters re-assembled on Sunday to ring in the new year with yarn and champagne, and then we took ourselves on a 4-mile hike along the Eno river, to get the year off to a proper start.

I still had another day off work to enjoy, so I borrowed Xak for another overnight.  I decided it was definitely time to have more toys in the house, so I picked up some playdough and blocks and a small wooden train set, and of course there are always crayons and books and stuffed toys in the guest room.  E spent part of the day with us, too, helping Xak build towers and train-tunnels out of the blocks, sharing raisins.

Paul and I were having black-eyed peas and greens – a southern tradition for good luck and prosperity in the new year – and Xak had eaten plenty of crackers and bananas, so we told E she could just raid the fridge when she got hungry.  She made herself a sandwich and took it back into the guest room where Xak was busy with the trains.  A few seconds later she came back.  “He drank my milk,” she said indignantly.  “And he licked my cheese.”  She made herself another sandwich (while I tried to stop laughing).

A little bit later I found them both cuddled up asleep on the couch.  I wish I could hold that moment forever.