The very best part of having my family come for Christmas was just that.  Having my family in my house, playing with my kids and getting to know them.  I appreciated that time together so much.  

Nona, my mom, did a great job at reading books and getting down on the floor and playing with the boy cousins.  She helped remind me of songs with motions, one of Canaan's favorite forms of entertainment, that I haven't sung since I was a little girl.  And she wasn't embarrassed to sing them with me to a cranky kid in a cab.  I know she's an excellent teacher because she is endlessly more creative than I am when playing with Canaan.  Blocks aren't just for building, they can become a train or a set of stairs for ducks to climb up.

Bah-bum, as my dad is now known, is never far from a good laugh at or with one of the kids.  He's turned into the classic grandpa, with an iphone full of bragging pictures.  I appreciated how often he held Eden for me.  She just melted into his arms as he sang to her, introducing her to the must-know Beatles, Chicago, and many more oldies.