And So It Begins

The Christmas festivities, that is. On Friday, Nina, Molly, Emily & I went to the Festival of Christmas concert at Bethel College with Aunts Deb & Joy, Grandma & Cousin Colleen. It is an annual tradition for us and a great way to kick off the season. Then on Saturday we went up to Siren to celebrate Christmas with Chris' side of the family. It was a great time of conversation and food and, of course, presents. Then, as they do every year, Grandma & Grandpa put us up at the local hotel to spend the evening swimming and playing. Today we all had brunch together and headed home.

All this with snow falling on Friday and today as well, has put me in the Christmas spirit. Good thing too, since we are hosting the neighborhood Christmas Open House next Saturday. Yikes! If you don't hear from me much this week it's because I am baking and cleaning and cleaning and baking. Ahhhhh (not the relaxing, just stepped in a warm bath sort of ahhh, that's the panicky, I haven't made a single cookie yet sort of ahhh)!

Okay, here are the pictures to prove that everything I've said is true (in case you doubt).  

Here's Grandma with two of her little sweethearts.

Marcus, Nina & Mackenzie buried in gifts.

Yes, this is pretty much how Aidan spent the day!

Raelea got a really big dump truck.  Is she ever happy!

The food was really good!

This is the one and only time each year that we stay in a hotel (Thanks Dad & Gloria!!)

Evan got a board game (see the happy smile on his face - that's how you KNOW he got a board game).  He even talked Molly, Chris & I into playing it.  Actually, in the approximately 32 hours he's owned the thing I've played it three times with him, he played part of a game with Molly and he played it once by himself.  Hmmm.
But in the end, exhaustion overtook us all...

Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season.