Fun Christmas Memories

After having Christmas morning to celebrate with ourselves, we were invited to join the Gilmore's in their family Christmas Celebration. We consider them our Family away from Family (like home away from home, get it?)
So, anyway, we arrived at their home only to begin snacking away at all of the wonderful treats that were contributed. We had delicious dips, baked brie, veggies & dip, chips, and wow...more than that just for starters. Once everyone had arrived and we'd all had a bit to visit, we began making our plates for our Christmas dinner. We had ham, brisket, asparagus casserole, another delicious asparagus dish, a pear and blue cheese salad, homemade noodles (made and dried by MeMaw Pummill and prepared by me today for the feast!), green beans, wild rice w/ sausage (which was scrumptious), potato salad, homemade rolls and strawberry jam, and probably even more than that. To round out the meal there were pies and cake, fudge, candies and cookies...And snacks galore that seemed to pop up out of nowhere.
My kids loved getting to play over at Grandma Jill's house. Gracie performed for everyone, a few times-before getting tickled to the point of puking. Literally, so that was fun for the brief moment that it interrupted the cleaning of the kitchen and the playing of the Wii.
We also had a dirty santa gift exchange amongst the 18 adults that were there. It was hillarious. I think that some pretty good gags were exchanged and that it was really a fun thing to do for a group like this one. I came home with a miniature John Deere basecall cap Christmas ornament and Matt got a large dog bone. Some funny gifts were women's underwear, a pillow hat made by Rocky, antlers and reindeer nose for your car, a talking George W. figurine, a Christmas sweater...and well, you get the picture -- there were 18 gag gifts exchanged amongst us and no one fought over gifts at all. :)
So we had a great time with our surrogate family, there is something special about those Gilmore's...I tell ya.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Today was a wonderful day, no doubt. Today we celebrated the birth of Jesus - and while that was heavy on my mind - I was consumed by the ever-common translation of Christmas through gift exchanges and talk of Santa Claus. We did attend church service yesterday evening, which was really the kick off to our family celebration of Christmas. The service was really enjoyable, and meaningful to me.
We came home to have a yummy dinner, chili (as tradition has it) for Christmas Eve's meal. And then each of the kids opened one gift. Surprisingly, they both opened Pajamas. :) Then on to the icing of the sugar cookies that we cut and baked together the night before. Talk about a test for someone like me. It was so hard to watch the kids create mess after mess with the frosting, the sprinkles and the crumbs. At the same time, I think it was one of the greatest things I've ever seen them do and I think we'll do it again sometime soon. (mostly because clean up is really easy with Powdered Sugar Icing since it basically disintegrates). And then the kids went to bed.
Santa arrived at some point during the night (thankfully he took pictures of the kids' loot stashes before leaving) -- and he gobbled up the cookies and milk that were left for him by the fireplace. We also left a couple stalks of celery for the reindeer, they are so often forgotten but you know, the reindeer do a lot of the work on Christmas Eve and early Christmas Morning. Oddly enough, the kiddos slept in until 8 AM this morning - this happens about 2 times a year so I'm super surprised this was one of those days. They awoke and went straight in to find their piles of Santa's gifts. I think Santa went a little overboard this year, but ya know - it is not hard to do. There are alot of great things out there for kids nowadays and sometimes, one cannot resist.
Some of Sean's gifts were his digital camera, remote control motorcycle, Connect 4, a PS2 game, hockey gloves, pajamas, a couple coloring books and art supplies. Gracie loved her dress up trunk of fairy clothes and her flapper dress, purse and shoes along with her barbie doll, car and bike, coloring books and art things, and her fancy jewelry. Matt and I were both elated watching the kids discover and open all of their gifts. Then we were exhausted after opening, assembling and explaining how to use each one. Next year Santa may need reminding that we are only 2 people, and the kids probably don't need so many gifts.

The Pictures Don't Do it Justice

A Yurt Experience

So saturday morning we packed up the truck with only our necessities, and Gracie's 2 baby dolls and purse, and headed to the back country.  Matt used his alpine skis, I borrowed snowshoes from Agnes, and the kids were outfitted in their most weatherproof winter gear aboard two sleds.  They were on the sleds along with a container of food and supplies, 4 sleeping bags and 4 sleeping pads And Matt and I both had on backpacks that were bursting at the zippers full of our clothes and more supplies for a one night stay at a Yurt.  The trail to the yurt wasn't treacherous or a difficult hike but the 1.5 miles took us almost 2 hours each way.  Between the kids falling off the sleds, the sleeping bags coming loose and falling off, and just needing to stop and play (and ask questions of me or Matt) it took us a while.  But we arrived after only a couple of meltdowns and Matt got a fire going inside the wood stove.  That heated the place right up and made it as comfy and cozy as could be.  The yurt we stayed in was equipped with bunks, a sofa, propane lantern and stove, woodburning stove and a table with 4 benches.  We played outside until it was just about dark and then came in.  I made dinner on the propane stove - spaghetti sauce heated that I'd actually prepared the night before and boiled pasta. Plus french bread toasted on the wood burning stove, which was delicious.  After dinner it was time for playing and talking at the table and then on to getting into jammies and into our sleeping bags for bed.  The kids were asleep by 8:15 and Matt and I joined them shortly after and probably were asleep by 10.  It was the start of a fantastic tradition.  The hike back was less enjoyable than the trip in to the Yurt but it was still memorable and for the most part fine.  Matt hauled the lighter load, which was the harder to pull because there wasn't much weight to keep the sled on the track and because we didn't really have a way to secure all the bags and sleeping pads to the sled. They were tied together, but not to the sled itself which is a problem.  So another 2 hours later we made it back to the truck, all in one piece, and everyone was happy.  (everyone (Gracie) was not happy on the entire trek back.  Seems Gracie doesn't like to listen when Mommy and Daddy tell her to wear her gloves, and she didn't learn her lesson on the leg to the yurt when her hands got so cold from being exposed to the cold and the snow--you get where I'm going).
I would list this in my top 5 life experiences.  Especially since I was semi-dreading it up until the time we actually left the house on Saturday morning.
While I loved it, I do appreciate the finer things in life - like showers, heaters, and light bulbs.  Thanks for a great trip Matt!
*Pictures to come

Movie Review and Week in Review

Tonight the kids and I met Mia and Angi for a movie. We saw the Princess & The Frog. Well worth the $29.50 I laid out for 3 tickets and a large popcorn and coke. Besides the yummy treats, great company and adorable movie - I also enjoyed only having to get up and leave the theatre two times with the kiddies for either a refill or potty break. The movie is really a great one but I wouldn't consider it Disney's best. I found lots of similarities to other Disney movies like Aladdin and even Jungle Book's character, Baloo. Anyway, aside from dreaming of becoming a Rockette - I think I will start considering "Princess" as one of my job aspirations.

Here are a few pictures that capture only a smidge of the fun we had this past weekend with Mimi and Papa.

We got to open Christmas gifts with Mimi and Papa on Sunday afternoon. Gracie loves playing with her food set, colors, doll accessories and new purse.
Seany is loving his Power Ranger toy and helmet and the LeapFrog Tag reading system -- though he'd still rather I just sit and read with him. Fine by me, the days are getting fewer and fewer that he'll keep wanting that special time with Mommy.

Sean caught the gift giving bug this past weekend and continually asked to make different family members gifts and then he had to wrap each one. The wrapping was the most artistic part but the pictures were definitely thoughtful and creative.

We also visited the Aquarium while our visitors were here. The kids loved the South American exhibit and the Sting Rays the best. I think we'll be going back there this winter for sure.