Christmas Morning

There's something about a pile of wrapped gifts under a tree that makes me happy. Especially when they weren't there the night before. Even if they weren't for me I'd be happy, it's just a lovely sight no matter what. Of course Bing Crosby singing "Mele Kalikimaka" in the background also adds to the happiness. After the Santa hats were distributed, we commenced the opening.

Anna's "surprise" gift, a new snowboarding jacket.

We've used a combination of about 4 sets of silverware for the past ten years, and slowly our stash has been dwindling. We can't imagine why forks get lost so easily, unless the boogieman steals them, or more probable: they get thrown out with paper plates by incompetent people. So this year someone had the brilliant idea to get mom a silverware set that actually matches!

Me with the best movie of the year: Up. It's pretty much amazing.

It was a very merry Christmas.

(FYI: Sarah and Emily were there too, but somehow evaded the camera. Oops.)

What Christmas Looks Like

Gifts under the tree... A bowl full of clementines...
Our favorite ornaments on display...

Freshly squeezed fruit juice...

And stockings on the wall

^ (Yes, there's an oddball in every group) ^

Christmas Eve Skiing

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

Enjoying the Whobilation

Today Anna and I were Who's. And it was great.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had several out of town friends over for Thanksgiving who also stayed with us for the week. It was really fun getting to hang out with them.

The lovely table. Feel free to feast your eyes on those delightful leaf place cards. Anna and I both got carpal tunnel from cutting those out, but it was so worth it. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim decided to join us, made out of old film role cases. Yes, from back in the dark ages.

Our rather long table (or three).

That weekend we went out to the restaurant that Teresa and Emily work at for dessert.

Anna H. (whom we lovingly called "big Anna" since we had two), Emily, and me.

Our two lovely servers. The place was basically empty except for us, so they got to hang out with us for some of the time and steal bites of our desserts.

Out in front of the lit-up moose.

And of course Dad couldn't be left out of the fun!

It was also good to take a break from normal life and think about the things I was thankful for. I really have quite a long list.

Happy 4th of July

let freedom reign

New Years

New Year's Eve Teresa and Emily had to work, but the rest of us ate yummy food and played games until they came back.

When they got home we played Cranium. Our team won, YES! Dad, Mom, Emily, Anna, and I all stayed up until 4am for some reason watching a movie.

And then on New Year's Day we took down our tree...in a very strange way. We did this last year too, it's actually quite funny. We clip off all the branches and throw them out the window, followed by the trunk.

And the mutilated tree on the ground. So sad. :(

Christmas Morning

In an attempt to save money this Christmas, Dad and Mom decided we wouldn't do stockings. They had a little surprise Christmas morning when all eight stockings were lined up on the coach...full. :D Don't they look cute? The second green stocking says Ted so 'someone' pinned Mami's name over it.

What would Christmas be without Christmas socks???

Dad and his rather large pencil.

Dad felt left out, him being the only one that didn't get socks. He improvised.

My long awaited coat. I had picked it out in NYC and have had to wait for it all this time.

Ah, so sylish. :)

Sarah with her Marines shirt. She was very proud of it and wore it to the gym the next day.

Mami with her gifts.

Emily painted Dad a paint-by-number of two deer. She was supposed to give it to him four years ago, but just finished it this year. :)

Anna with her apron.

And my favorite picture from Christmas. Teresa got her Willow Tree nativity that she's wanted for a while. I love the face. :D

Then we went to my uncle and aunts for brunch. We relaxed all day and then watched White Christmas. And that was our Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve toast of sparkling grape juice.

Emily and Sarah.

Teresa, Anna, and Mami. Mami and Teresa worked together on a movie in NYC this year, and she came up for Christmas because she just lives by herself. It was confusing having two "mommy's" in the house because they're pronounced the same way.

Don't ask me what Dad's hair is doing. :D

Teresa and I.

All the girls in front of the tree.

Each Christmas us kids pick names for each other so that we only have to get one sibling a present. On Christmas Eve we always open these gifts. Teresa got a digital frame from Ted.

Teresa got Em goggles for snowboarding.

Michelle had Sarah.

Anna got a purse from Sarah.

Anna had me and gave me slippers (because I always want to steal hers) and orange hoop earrings. Then we watched the Nativity Story.

Gingerbread House

We have never made a gingerbread house before. So this year Anna really wanted to make one. The rolled out dough ready to be baked.

All the ingredients

The roof.

Making the windows.

Putting it together.It is finished!

The amazing twizzler archway...my brilliant idea. :)

It was kind of small and certainly not perfect, but we are rather proud of it. :D