Fourth on the Fifth

 We celebrated the Fourth of July on the Fifth this year.

Coleman and Sadie came home and Blake joined us for dinner. Jim grilled steaks, I made sides, and Carolyn made sugar cookies for everyone to decorate

We celebrated a big 21st birthday a day early as well!

We missed Christian! But it was so nice to have almost everyone here. 

An Exciting New Year's Eve

Carolyn is recovering from having her wisdom teeth out so we had a low-key NewYear's Eve: Mexican dominoes and watching the ball drop on TV

 

Christmas Day

I was afraid Christmas Day would be weird not being at home. I regretted not bringing a little tree with us! But it was wonderful-which goes to show it's always about the who, not the where. 

Coleman got a roaring fire going for us.

And the mini disco balls were a huge hit?

Santa always brings a game :D

And one of Carolyn's gifts required safety goggles!

Coleman enjoyed his book choices this year

And Jim REALLY likes Carolyn's beret. Hmm...Christmas idea for next year?

This year's puzzle was an especially fun one. Challenging but not impossible!

Christmas Day is made for napping.

Success!

Food

Breakfast: Sausage Egg Bake

Appetizers: Crab Cheesecake, charcuterie, Sausage Cream Cheese Dip

Dinner: Two Sauce Lasagna

Books

Jim: The Man Who Knew: Alan Greenspan

Christian: A Visual History of Lego Mini Figures

Coleman: The Mamba Story (Kobe Bryant) and Greenlights 

Carolyn: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

Andrea: 100 American Women Who Changed the World

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve found us at Grace Episcopal Church.

We were so happy to be able to worship in person!

It is a BEAUTIFUL church! 

Inside

and out!

There were hundreds of these needlepointed kneelers. I wanted to take pictures of them all!

Carolyn and Blake

There was a live Nativity scene and Santa Claus!

After church, we had drinks at a rooftop bar with the Suiters while waiting for our reservation. Dinner was at Burwell's and had five enthusiastic thumbs up! Coleman ordered their signature meal-and cooked his own steak on a 700 degree rock they brought to the table. We also tried Beef Tartare... 3/5 Brauns liked it. I was NOT one of them.

After dinner, we went back to the villa and put on our PJs. This year's Christmas shirts were appropriate times three!

Christian said he needed dress socks-Carolyn was happy to oblige!

Coleman's wrapping paper of choice never disappoints.

The bodysuit Aunt Amy gave Carolyn was not well received by the three men of the family.

A flurry of texting their displeasure to Aunt Amy! :D

Playing the game Aunt Amy sent the boys

And we finally were all together to watch Merry Madagascar. 

Happy Julianuary!

Our sweet dog sitters sent us this pic. Apparently it snowed on Christmas Eve at home. Lucy does not seem to be a fan!

Kiawah Island

We did something completely different for Christmas this year! Our friends offered us the use of their condo on Kiawah Island over Christmas and we decided to take them up on it! We haven't been away for Christmas since 2000, when Coleman was only six months old.

We left on Wednesday (after flying home from Oklahoma on Tuesday!) Santa's sleigh guided us there!

This may be one of my new favorite places. The island is BEAUTIFUL. 

The villa is in a golf resort and Coleman was pretty stoked to see the courses, even if he didn't get a chance to play any of them.

Christmas afternoon, we took a walk over to the beach. 

It was freezing cold

but we got some cute pics!

The ocean course (where the PGA championship will be played) overlooks the ocean.

The 18th hole

It was nice to get away and exactly what we needed!