It's all merry and bright until everyone gets sick

In keeping with tradition, I'm finally talking about Christmas six days after it happened. You can expect my year in review post sometime around Valentines Day.

Sesame's first Christmas present came from my parents. We didn't give Sesame any gift this year. I think the 24/7 life support it's provided free of charge is plenty.

We drove to Texas to visit Christopher's family for Christmas. I announced when we were about to enter Arkansas before I saw the signs because I've seen pictures of the Arkansas bridge on instagram so many times. Instagram is the geography textbook of the 21st century. As soon as it becomes the math textbook I will delete my account.

Arkansas gave us the gifts of three hours bumper to bumper traffic and a tree falling directly in front of our car as we drove down the highway. Good thing I was co-piloting because the driver who shall remain nameless was unaware that a giant piece of wood was about to crash down on us. I pointed at it and said, "Do you see that tree?" as calmly as one might say "Would you like fries with that?" We drove over the top of the tree and (obviously) survived, but I didn't close my eyes the rest of the trip. Somebody had to keep an eye on the road.

I'd like to say it was all fun and games while we were in Texas, but sadly it wasn't. All eight of us got the stomach virus to some degree or another. Merry Christmas to us! It was the gift that kept on giving. Sesame and I spent Christmas day in the hotel. (Yes, I do realize that in my attempts to capture Sesame's first almost Christmas I ended up with a picture prominently featuring the floor.)

When we weren't dashing to the bathroom, we got around town. We went to see Christmas lights.

And to church for a Christmas Eve service where I had some wardrobe issues with my dress.

We visited the zoo.

Sadie especially liked the flamingos.

On the way home we stopped at the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. He's my favorite president. ON OPPOSITE DAY. It was a good lesson in self-control to not give my own side of the story after every display. I will say that he did a good job with the rug in his Oval Office. I'm always on the look out for a good rug to put in our living room and this one fit all the requirements. I would have permanently borrowed it but a security guard was sitting right outside the door (hence the below photo taken under my sleeve) and I didn't think I could take it without causing a scene.

We turned home to find our house a balmy 41 degrees. Nothing like a warm homecoming!