The Holiday

 We spent three weeks with my family this Christmas, leaving New York in mid December and coming back after a conference Rémi had in Atlanta the first week in January. Christmas morning, Camille got a beautiful table and chairs from my parents, and a cute tea set. We gave her that robot and apron. She spent hours pouring that robot tea, and we all had Christmas breakfast around the little table.

 

 

Earlier in the week we had breakfast with Aunt Jami.

With Papa on Christmas eve.

Here Camille is helping to prepare for guests, my mom's side of the family joined us on the day after Christmas.

Rémi plays cards with some of my cousins, aunts and uncles, and Camille's uncle Andy in the Santa hat.

Rémi with his good luck charm. She was watching the play so intently.

 Pops shelling a walnut for Camille. He did this a lot this holiday, just like he did for me as a girl.

Family story time.

Watching the snow and waiting for Julia to arrive.

When the cousins are finally together, they both want to head directly to the playroom in the basement.

My parents bought us all tickets to the Georgia Aquarium for Christmas.  It was such a highlight of the holiday, the girls LOVED it, we all did. I think Rémi and I were both behind the camera for the above picture.

 

Whale Shark!

 There is a giant theater-style portal with a wall of glass two feet deep, two stories high and 60+ feet wide separating viewers from the most amazing, enormous fish. It's a jaw dropper.

This audience was torn between looking at the two girls and looking at the fish.

Of course, Camille wanted to touch everything, even when she said "berk!"

Playtime back at the house with Grandmother.

 

Right after this video, Julia said "Camille get down?".

Snuggle time with Pops.

For new year's, we drove to Niki and Nick's house just outside of Asheville. The weather was pretty bad, but we had a great time playing with all Julia's new Christmas toys.

Then, just before coming home, I celebrated my 31st birthday.