From the stockings were hung...to all is packed

Christmas came and went with a quiet kind of excitement.

We started on Christmas eve with a trip to Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse. Mark had taken me there for my birthday last April and we were so impressed. It was fun to bring the boys and introduce them to fine dining. It's unusual for us to bring them to a restaurant with a dress code! Everyone (including Jonny) were so well behaved, using the best manners and all the right utensils. Truly a meal to remember. Then we headed downtown to the square to enjoy a little Starbucks and all the Christmas lights. We finished with a fire (real wood) and watched a Christmas Story.

Christmas day the big boys were up around 6am and we finally woke Jonny about 6:30. He emerged from his bed completely naked and was so excited about the new bike, we had to drag he off to get dressed. All the boys had a wonderful morning opening gifts. We missed not having family or friends with us this year- which is why it was so quiet. Next year will be different.

Today we finished packing the last of the boxes. The house is officially on the market and we are heading north tomorrow. Our plans include spending the New Year with friends from church camping at Crooked River State Park and then heading into McDonough on the first. Mark flies back to bring the semi north on Jan 2. The house in Ocala looks like the moving company is coming any day and the camper is busting at the seams, but it's all good. The house in GA is taking longer than we planned, but that gives us more time to sell this one. See, it's all good. We should be in that house end of January.

Thanks to Cris for all the boxes (I didn't buy any more)! The boys are looking forward to all the cool weather in GA and I look forward to a time without household duties (except laundry).