The 2 days leading up to and the 2 days after Christmas were filled with amazing friends, family, food and snow. It literally snowed for 4 days straight. It was thick heavy wet snow. Perfect for sledding and snow men, but killer on the back and neck (shoveling). Tom worked off his weight in cookies/sweets simply by trying to keep our drive way clear!
We hosted Tom's family for Christmas Eve. While the whole clan was not able to make it (see above snow issues) we did have a houseful and were thrilled to resurrect our appetizers with soup/salad tradition. The cousins exchanged names and Michaela was a right bossy Santa Claus (gotta love that in a girl). The kids were all really good about waiting and being excited about each other gifts. The grown ups did a book exchange and I just started reading my "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". Tom got a cookbook (go figure) and has been reading that front to back as well.Nothing say's Merry Christmas like fireworks!
Christmas morning brought a nice "visit" with the kids in my bed while we wait for Tom to get done shoveling and for Billy to wake up for Santa presents. He was WAY good to us this year. Tom got a new leather coat, the boys skate boards, Kay Rollerblades and we ALL got ice skates. We are excited to 
get going on all our new activities! (now the snow just needs to cooperate a melt a bit) Jimmy also got a new drum set, Kay a balance beam and Billy a Leapster. They haven't stopped playing with their new toys yet! It really was a magical year and magical ages for Christmas. Grandpa made breakfast and we hung out in our pj's until it was time to go to my friend Michelle's and eat more. She has a traditional party with homemade Tom & Jerry;'s. YUM! The kids chased each other around with the newest hottest toys (aka nerf guns) and the girls did makeup.
get going on all our new activities! (now the snow just needs to cooperate a melt a bit) Jimmy also got a new drum set, Kay a balance beam and Billy a Leapster. They haven't stopped playing with their new toys yet! It really was a magical year and magical ages for Christmas. Grandpa made breakfast and we hung out in our pj's until it was time to go to my friend Michelle's and eat more. She has a traditional party with homemade Tom & Jerry;'s. YUM! The kids chased each other around with the newest hottest toys (aka nerf guns) and the girls did makeup.Saturday was more snow, lunch with Uncle Don's friend Joanne and a crazy crazy party at our friends the Willis's. Again, the nerf guns were a hit and the girls were busy doing gymnastics all over the house. The grownups had every kind of wine, beer, booze and shot available. Tom and I were one of the first to leave (its safer that way:L))
Sunday was a super relaxing day with the Gottsackers, sledding, food, makeup, the movie UP and just hanging out. not a bad ending to our week:)
Now, I'm back at work, Tom's trying to get the kid s into a schedule for the last week of vacation and we are set to watch the Vikings on Monday night football. :0
