The Guests Have Gone

Twas the night before Christmas and all down the streets
The relatives did drive until again we did greet.
The ornaments were hung and the children were bouncing
For hugs and presents and games to get through trouncing.

**
My folks were here for Christmas, and it went quite well. Everyone got along great on the holyday, and I only had to outlaw certain topics starting Wednesday (sadly, I felt that it had to be put aggressively to be taken seriously, but as we develop the rules over the years they'll come to be expected). We found that keeping a schedule or, at least, keeping people focused on games and such helped to achieve a proximity to harmony. Now that the basics of "What will keep people calm and sane" are being discovered, I'm defrosting to the idea of hosting a holiday on non-pregnant/new baby years.

I had a good time with my sister, SEE. I didn't know what to expect as they'd been traveling a week already and the worst seemed to be starting. Keeping her calm, allowing her to voice her opinion (as off the wall as it is at times), and simply stating that I don't either understand or have that experience seemed to help. Avoiding gruffness in manner as well as voice helped her feel accepted even when she wasn't making sense.

Now, if I can only act normally and naturally like that with my parents! Hahaha!

They seemed to have relaxed a great deal with my nephew. He got to be among the wild free-range children for the week. Poor thing's not used to a 'pecking order' and didn't realize what BB wanted (only for him to bow to her whims). They were fine on Christmas, then he was here still... Once she knew that he wasn't dethroning displacing her (he's just 3 days older, they're about the same size!), they started getting along again.

TJ was sucked into video games.

AJ loves the new swing.

Cow started walking last night. Just up and walked across the kitchen to TJ. She's our earliest walker, 11 months 1 day.