Christmas 2008 part ii . . . .

Caution . . .

only proceed reading this post if you want to read about our most amazing December happenings mingled with a bunch of photos. Ok, really this super long post is for posterity reasons and it really will be very long and somewhat like every other blog post you've read about Christmas and December 'cept with our lovely faces in the pictures. Ready?

Our Christmas traditions always start off with the making of a gingerbread house. No, I do not home make it....it takes all I have to just get the kit together with a smile on my face.

and if you are wondering where the picture is of the finished product, well, um . . . I forgot to take one.

Later in the month, an absolutely amazing program was put on by Nicole's 3rd grade class. Christmas Around the World was the theme and they practiced for weeks. It was perfect in every way. The pictures however . . . could someone please teach me how to take a decent picture under those fluorescent lights?! Seriously. ugh.


Next were family Christmas parties and celebrations which included lots of singing, new push bells, Nicole wanting to be a lamb for the Nativity, good food, a new couch for my mom and dad, etc. etc.



Christmas morning was splendid and as you can see, I got the before shots... just not the after. We got a ton of video footage though, so all hope is not lost and if you really want to see us all sleepy eyed and smiley we'll invite you over for some good ol' family home videos. I'll even pop some popcorn.

On Nicole's, Kaydee's, and Natalie's list were things like a Nintendo D.S., Ipods, cupcake maker, Tumbles (the dog), a real dog, a train etc. which I talked Santa out of giving to them. The children had a great Christmas though and didn't even miss the above list, mostly. From Santa they each received a scooter and a movie plus Nicole a didj, Kaydee-ponyville, and Nanners-pollypockets. Splendid.

Christmas break was spent with family and friends-- and Greg working ridiculous hours (18-20 hour days...even on Christmas eve) and getting so little sleep that he is still catching up from it all.

Highlights from the break that I didn't take a picture of:

• Game night with our great friends, the Norton's on Christmas Day night. I seriously think we should make it a new tradition.
  
• watching old classic movies while wrapping presents
• Wii night with the Clegg's... six hours of screaming, dancing, and rocking out. Fabulous.
• Gaining a bagillion pounds from all of the delicious food I devoured.
• Snow fort making and hot cocoa.
• Last minute Brunch with good friends.
• Learning the game "oh Heck!"--my new love
• Relaxing.

New Year's Eve was spent at my Sista's. Family, food, games, wii... doesn't get much better than that. and What's New Year's without truely getting into the true spirit of it?... Nothing I tell ya, so we celebrated which in our case apparently means dressing up in our best attire and make a TON of noise. Love it.

So that pretty much wraps up our December.

Whew...

That was a long post....

Thanks for being a trooper and reading every last word that I had to say about our totally terrific December happenings. Even if you didn't.