First Christmas, Second Christmas

This post will mostly be a photo documentation of our Christmas celebrations.  The first beginning with a last minute invitation to Christmas Eve dinner at our church with all those that don't have family here in Vienna, those that were unable to travel home for the holidays and all the people that are chosen family, as we like to say.  Anyhow, there was a lovely dinner and time of fellowship, carol singing and game playing.  The group of littles that were present referred to our Thing 4 as "big guy", their term of endearment for him as he chased them around the building and played hide and seek with them.  Their squeals and giggles were pure joy!

After dinner we walked to have a look at the city's light displays, a different version of our tradition.  

Three happy Vienna residents! 

 Christmas morning came and for maybe the first time in twenty years we did not wake before the sun.    I sat cupping my coffee and was in utter disbelief at that revelation.  I'd be lying if it didn't cause some nostalgia to flood in and tears to slowly fall.  The ache of something that once was and the tangible feeling of stepping into something new.  Once Thing 4 was awake we shared breakfast, he opened a few presents, we sat around in our pajamas and enjoyed the day together, all three of us reeling with anticipation of the girls' arrival the next day.

Christmas breakfast with my guys. 

Present time!

And arrive they did.  But the first celebration was not Christmas with the six of us, it was Thing 4's birthday.  Then the next day was our Christmas celebration.  It involved a field trip to the Christmas market at Schönbrunn Castle, the summer palace for the Hapsburg family, donning our Harry Potter house t-shirts, breakfast for dinner and stocking opening.  Our long awaited traditions all took place and I soaked in the Things sprawled out in our tiny living space, together, laughing, and drenched in Christmas spirit.  Thank you Jesus.

Thing 1 trying Glühwein for the first time.  Verdict: Not her favorite.  

Pretzels as big as your face.  Literally!  

Mama and all of her Things!  (yes, we were stuffing our faces)

Annual Christmas pajama photo!  

Two Gryffindor, two Slytherin, one Hufflepuff and one Ravenclaw.  

And there you have it.  A concise recount of Christmas 2018, photos and all.  We're finding our traditions are changing, being reworked and played out differently than before.  Husband Jared and I are totally into this and really do love being parents of mostly adult age kiddos.  They're our favorite to spend time with, listen to, learn from and celebrate with.  Especially when that celebration is Jesus' birth.