Merry Christmas 2007!

Christmas was good this year. It always is. We started out the weekend before, by having Christmas with John's side of the family. I really enjoy the time we get to spend together with all of the extended family. You couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of people, really. I'm so fortunate to have married into such a great family. I see his aunts/uncles/cousins several times a year at various family functions. On my side, it's really only for Christmas and then weddings/funerals. Hopefully, that will change someday...

We went to Christmas Eve service with my mom, Judi, Elaina, Joanie and Brady. It's standing room only at church, and when we do get there early enough to grab a seat, usually it's given up for an elderly person or mom w/kiddos to sit down. Although there has been a year or two that we've been able to keep our seats. Then, it's back to my mom's house for swiss cheese fondue (yum!) and cheese/crackers. Although I'm sad I can't have eggnog anymore, due my somewhat recent egg allergy, I still somehow manage to make it through. :) It's nice to watch everyone open their presents and play with my niece Elaina. I can't believe she's been with Judi for a year now. Time is zipping by! My brother Jack was able to join us this year with his girlfriend and her two sons. That's the first year in a long time we have spent Christmas Eve with him. It was nice!

Well, since I was running the camcorder that night, I had to steal some pics from the girls' cameras for this post. I'm sure they won't mind! Anyway- I think I need to work with them a bit on the fine art of picture taking (not that I'm an expert by any means). The ones they took at my mom's all came out blurry and in a wacked out color. Hmmm.... So, after my mom's, we went back home and had Christmas morning at our house the next day. Here's a pic of the girls after coming downstairs to see what Santa brought them:

This is what happens when you let them pick out gifts for each other! Too funny.

After opening up our presents, we had some of Aunt Betty's yummy homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Double yum!

Then, it was off to spend Christmas Day with John's folks and Mike, Trish and the kids. We had a delicious lunch (as usual) and then started the present opening. Santa brought the girls a Wii, and John and I got this really cool blanket. On one side is a neat KU pattern and the other side has squares of blue jeans. In the middle, is a partial pair of John's Grandpa's overalls. Very very cool. That's something we will treasure for many years. Ash, Kaiden and Maysen had a great time playing with Kierstin and Laura too. Maysen is so funny- she has the best facial expressions! We still haven't made it to see their new house yet, but hope to soon.

After that, we went home for a bit to drop off our gifts and then it was out to my cousin Lisa's house. This is pretty much the only time of the year that I get to see any of my dad's side of the family. Everyone usually brings something to eat/snack on. I finally got to see (out the back door) my cousin's Australian Shepherd dogs, Martini and Rossi. Cute names. Energetic dogs! Lisa has totally remodeled her house and I really like it. I'm so glad she's doing things the way she wants them done. The basement is almost finished now- and I love how she did it. Kind of Tuscan-y I think. A gorgeous bar area and great flat screen tv on the wall. A really cool wine storage area beneath the winding stairs that you come down on. Oh and the pinball machine. A Family Guy pinball machine. Very fun to play. (It was turned on the kid-friendly setting.) We used to have a pinball machine growing up. It was fun. Oh- we had a pachinko machine too. Don't see too many of those around anymore. They were very addictive!!

I always look forward to going to her house on Christmas night. It's a nice way to end the day.