It has been a very busy month and I am going to upload a lot of photos to capture some of the incredible memories with the family. It was a whirlwind of a December. Shortly after I arrived, mom and I started the holiday season by decorating our homes and attending an excellent one-man performance of “The Christmas Carol.” A short week after that, my kids arrived a day apart from each other, and the festivities began in earnest. We spent a lot of time playing games, checking on the garden, hitting the gym, indulging in a pizza night with Larry operating the peel. We even set up our own take-out window to solve for the back door being blocked by the van.

We were able to have a big family lunch with Margie and Jimmy in Fort Pierce. The kids got to go to the Stick Marsh. Mom and I also took the kids to the Brevard Zoo, and had an awesome time feeding giraffes and kangaroos. The kids still had work and study to do in between family activities, but we all managed to squeeze into our little home here with the help of Louie in our driveway, which doubled as an office, a lounge, and when the last of the family arrived, it even doubled as an extra bedroom. We made a point to always have dinner together as a big family. And we made sure to drive around and see holiday lights in the neighborhood and we oooohed and aaaaaahed appropriately and comically.

Christmas eve we held our first little party, and it felt wonderful – albeit crowded – to have this little home so full of Barefoot Bay family and friends. Great food, lots of laughter, and we even wrapped up the afternoon with singing carols together. Christmas morning we exchanged gifts at mom and dad’s home. We enjoyed panettone from Sullivan St Bakery, egg nog, and coffee. We all enjoyed our photo gifts. Then we had our traditional gingerbread decorating contest (Alexa tied with mom and me). Larry, the kids, and I headed back to our house where we began preparations for the Christmas Feast, once again crafted by Larry. On the menu was Beef Wellington and Vegetarian Lasagna. We all ate exceptionally well, and we even saved room for the homemade Basque cheesecake.

Post holiday, we had a couple days to take care of various tasks (dentist appointments, etc.) and then we resumed family fun time when Larry’s folks, Sara and Bobby, arrived from Tennessee. We all overnighted here in the home (and RV), then in the morning we all made our way to Miami to make the most of our time together in a warm place with lots of space and a great private pool.

While in Miami we all relaxed. Most of the pictures I snapped were of people reading out on the patio, out in the hot tub, out on the loungers. We also played games, did some pickin’-n-grinnin’, and ate dinners together. Mom and dad hit a couple casinos. I did some reconnaissance work at a flower distributor. A bunch of us headed to the Everglades for some walking and boating. The majority of us were asleep by 10 pm on New Years Eve, but the kids managed to ring in the new year together. And on New Year’s Day we met friends in Miami for a giant, multi-family, multi-generational brunch. I got to hold the newest member of the Magpie flock, and I was so delighted! We spent the last night in Miami assembling the adorable LEGO flower bouquet that Elliot and Alexa got for mom. It was super sweet!

All too soon, it was time for our little group to disperse. Mom and dad headed back to the Bay. Sara and Bobby headed back to Tennessee. Larry, Elliot, Alexa, Meredith, and I had one final day exploring South Beach Miami, and then it was time for me to bring Mer to the Miami airport. The following early, early morning, Larry and I brought Elliot and Alexa to the Orlando airport.

Now everyone is at their respective homes, and this little house is quiet. We’ve packed Christmas away until next year. It will be hard to beat this year’s holidays. They really were perfect.