Home for Christmas

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" played softly in my mind during the weeks and days leading up to our trip. The meaning of  'going home for Christmas' was rewritten this year for our family. Being separated, by thousands of miles, is a constant reminder of just how precious every moment is with the ones you love. For an entire week, the Anderson family was complete.

Candles were lit, one by one, as the congregation sang "Silent Night" during the Christmas Eve service. Even Caleb participated with Daddy's iPhone candle app! The sunrise was beautiful Christmas morning as we sipped coffee and waited for everyone to wake. We gathered around the tree and enjoyed coffee cake and stuffin' muffins. Caleb repeatedly asked, "Does this say Caleb?" It really didn't matter, he assisted with the opening of all gifts. We laughed. We cried. We were together.

Snow covered the ground and continued to fall throughout the week, cardinals filled the trees, and the air was crisp and refreshing. We had days of play, days of discovery and days of connecting with family and friends. Evenings were spent in the living room enjoying the warmth of the fire, the lights of the tree, candy cane cookies and the closeness of family.

Caleb enjoyed playing trains in the basement and making laps on the Big Wheel Gram found for him. He enjoyed being out in the snow sledding and throwing snowballs at Millie. He could often be found playing with Gram's teddy bear or Papa's firetruck. He loved giving Millie hugs and sampling cookies from the kitchen. If Mark and Mike were home, Caleb was never more than a few feet from them.

We spent a day at The Henry Ford and a day at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. At The Henry Ford, Caleb climbed aboard a steam locomotive, changed his first tire and stood in awe of Lego creations constructed from millions of blocks. We sat at the diner counter for lunch where we enjoyed Faygo pop and Better Made Chips, neither of which can be found in Arizona! The hands-on museum was yet another day of discovery. Caleb was in his glory in the Preschool Gallery where he found a fire engine, water table, colorful balls everywhere and oh so much more! The other highlight was when he got to climb in a full size ambulance! Discovery also took place at home where we had fun digging through family history. Matt also uncovered three very special bunnies and one wind-up bear from when he was little. Caleb is now the proud keeper of Daddy's childhood treasures!

We had the pleasure of connecting with extended family and friends throughout the week and during the open house on Saturday. It was wonderful to catch up with cousins and longtime family friends, if only for a minute. Caleb had a blast playing with his cousins, especially his older cousin Bella! In addition to connecting with friends and family, Matt and I reconnected with one another, enjoying two dates throughout the week! This also gave Caleb some quality time with Gram, Papa, Uncle Mark and Uncle Mike!

A picture perfect week.

                     

               

Watching as they prep our plane

Gram and Papa, here we come!

First on the agenda, setting up the train

Big Wheelin'

Bring on the snow!

Mr. Boots

Getting ready to make a fire 

Tear and crumple, I can do that!

Papa's childhood firetruck

That's one big train!

Have you ever seen so many Legos?

At the controls of the Thomas train

We just had to stop and check out the green sports car

Taking a peak under the hood

Changing his first tire

The lunch counter at Lamy's Diner

Faygo, yum!

"I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener"

A house just my size

Ford Field built entirely of Legos

The Chicago skyline

Building their own Lego creations

Fun times at the Henry Ford

Caleb behind the wheel of this New Holland combine

Souvenir penny

Parisa & Mike

The Cheerios boxcar, Caleb's favorite

Daddy's bunny

Christmas morning sunrise

Merry Christmas

Morning snuggles with Gram's teddy bear

Christmas hugs for Millie

My Christmas Elf

UFO Solar Balloon, perfect for Arizona

A diploma frame for his master's degree

Uncle Mike demonstrating his gift to Caleb

Caleb's gift to Uncle Mark

Books on wheels, cool!
Thanks Uncle Mike!

Belle, a rescue tank engine with water cannons!

Jake and the Never Land Pirates!
Thanks Uncle Mark!

Big smiles for Flynn The Fire Engine

Sporting his MSU slippers, a surprise from Mommy & Daddy

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus

At the controls of the family Christmas present

So sweet

Taking a stab at Wii Bowling

Taking a swing with Papa's piggy bank

Fishing up some fun 

Experimenting with the water table

The fun never ends in the Preschool Gallery

The awe and wonder of a child

Fire Chief Caleb and his crew

Don't worry; I'm on my way!

The one and only time I want to see any of these guys in the back of an ambulance

Getting a helping hand from Papa

Concentration is key

Fun times at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Couldn't stay away from the fire engine

Sun and snow, oh yeah!

Hard at work 

Pull me up the hill Daddy

His face says it all!

It wouldn't be right to let Caleb have all the fun

After a big day of play

Tonight's opening act

Just chillin'

Uncle Mike's best Wilbur impression

On campus feeding the ducks

Who's hungry?

Ducks, ducks and more ducks

Making friends

Daddy reunited with a snow shovel

Puzzle time

My dear friends, Dana & Annette

Caleb sharing his backpack of treasures with his cousins

Caleb & Bella

The Plaid Shirt Club

Making memories at Gram's

Blessed to love and be loved

Caleb and his girl Millie

Cheese please!

Kung Pow!