Festivities

We've had a wonderful Christmas season. Before Christmas we hustled and bustled with the girls' rooms and parties and shopping. We spent Christmas Eve with my parents at their house for a beautiful dinner. Dad read from Luke 2 and the kids opened their new pajamas and their gifts from each other. We went home and tucked the kids into bed (about 4 times, they were a little bit excited) and worked late into the night on the finishing touches of the girls' rooms and last minute wrapping, etc.

After the excitement of Christmas morning we relaxed for little bit. I took the most fabulous 2 hour nap. Davis came over and took the big kids to my parents and when I woke up Brennan, Ben and I joined them. Ryan and Macy, and Josh and Eliza, and Davis's girlfriend, Melissa were there and we had nice mellow afternoon playing games. Later that night, my Dad's Mom and his 6 siblings who live in town and their families came over. It was wonderful.

The day after Christmas we did a delightful NOTHING. The next day, Brennan and Davis took the kids sledding and had so much fun. We then went bowling with my Dad and Davis and then reconvened at Mom and Dad's for dinner and a very loud game of Bingo.

Friday night at around 10:00pm all of us (except Brennan who was here with sleeping kids) gathered at my parents' for more games and schmoozing until about 2:30am. Fun times.

Sunday we went back for dinner together marking the end of Davis' visit. We love having him.

Early evening we had a party with our kids, playing games and eating their chosen dinner of a potato bar. It's so much fun that they are getting old enough to play. We played "Old Maid", "Go Fish" and "Uno" while Benny crawled all over the table and stole our cards. They all seemed so grown up, it was really fun.

Later that evening we put the kids to bed and hosted a few of my cousins and their spouses and Josh and Eliza for a really fun New Year's Eve party. We played games and laughed hard. They are all some of my very favorite people.

Today is fairly low-key. Brennan and I have basically alternated taking naps all day. The 3 big kids each have a friend over and Benny is still in his jammies. I feel like part of the fun of the holidays and all the festivities is the contrasting fun of just staying home. We are so blessed that we have so many friends and family. We're anticipating Brennan's parents coming to stay as soon as the snow storms stop. Good times!