Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's

As has become tradition, the family gathered together for Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's house. This year, we were able to spend it with Mike and the kids also. They were down for nearly a week and all the cousins had a great time running wild together. What a different dynamic it is to have kids of every age from 1 to 9 all together playing.

Before going over to Nana and Papa's for Christmas Eve dinner, gift exchanges and fun, however...

Santa has to have his cookies!

Nana and Carlee helped the grandkids (boys against girls) compete in the gingerbread building/decorating contest. It is funny how one has more candy on it than the other. Gee, I wonder where the rest of the candy went?

Dessert after dinner. Nana made a red velvet - pistachio pudding creation that was delicious!

The kids are getting SO BIG!!!

Nana's tradition of reading to the kids. This wasn't the Bible Christmas story, however.

All the new robes ready to wear for Christmas morning and the opening of presents. This was a real labor of love by Nana since she ended up having to hem several so that they would fit all the cousins just right.

Grandma Jo's visit for Christmas

Grandma Jo came to spend a few days with us before the holiday. We love having her come. The kids get to spend some fun, quality time playing with her and I get a break from cooking since she likes to take us out for dinner. This year, my school schedule had me working up until a couple of days before Christmas but the kids and Jay were off for most of Joan's visit so they could be together.

Waiting for their early Christmas with Grandma Jo


Giving Grandma her present. Gee, I wonder what it is?!
Sydney seems more excited about it than anyone else.





and what could this be?

I love this photo!

Thanks, Grandma Jo and Grandpa Bob, for the Christmas presents!

Thanksgiving '10

For Thanksgiving this year, the family get-together was a small gathering. It consisted of Grandpa, Grandma, Nana, Papa and the four of us. We made a delicious spread and enjoyed a few hours together. The kids didn't know what to do without being with their cousins, Dresden and Logan, for a holiday but they managed. It was a simple, but nice time together.

Collin shows Grandpa his DSi and game while waiting for dinner.

Mom, the official picture-taker.



The only way I end up in photos these days is by taking one of myself.
The mutts:

Grandpa looking pretty good.

Can you tell they are related?

Twas 11 nights before Christmas

After Collin and I returned from basketball practice we wondered were Sydney and Natalie were? We looked through the whole house and couldn't find a mouse. We searched high and low, but wondered where they would go. We looked room by room, downstairs, upstairs but no one was found not even in the bathroom, we thought they might be dead. Finally, we took one last look, and low and behold, they are past out in bed(at 7PM).

Holiday Pictures

I can't believe I forgot to blog these pictures last year! Mom really wanted to have pictures of the whole family, especially since Grandpa's terrible health problems last summer and fall. Larry was kind enough to take photos of all of us for Mom but I forgot to get the pictures from her. We hardly ever have professional pictures taken and so, these ones being pretty good of us, I'm surprised it took me so long to blog them.

More LEGO creations

Collin loves LEGO's. This is his latest build. He especially loves the catapults and crossbows with this castle. He had been saving his money for this one and then spent the afternoon in his room putting the 963 pieces together.