Christmas 2011

Joking in the kitchen as we get to work on lots of chopping

Preparing the table settings

Mollie and Maddie

Jenny, Emily and Abbey

Mitchell, Amy Joe and American Girl Christmas arrives!

The stage is set

Jenny tries a home brew with the guys

Madeline and Julie

Mitch feigns disinterest but is calculating his moves for the cousin's gift exchange while Emily loses her edge in the competition

Pudgy's T shirts for all!

Joe opts for fun with the wee ones

Emily serves chocolate wine with crushed peppermint on the rims

     Christmas started on Dec. 22nd for us as I decided to rush out at 8:40 pm and buy a platform bed (time to start being realistic that my "art room" was definitely compromising bed space) before Nick arrived!  On our way home, with bed tied to the top of the car, we heard great news from Phil about recent scans that were clear!  Its all downhill from there because when you fight a battle that big, everything else that we are doing  for the holidays is just "goofing around".  

     Mitchell arrived first, on December 17th and had Nick's gifts to Joe in his backpack. Lets just say that in my house (a bunny collector) a hare-mask from Cabela's intended for fly-tieing isn't really a welcome sight! On the other hand, he also had beautiful handmade paper flowers for Emily, so I had to forgive him.

     Joe arrived by car after moving his worldly possessions (a U-haul pulling a trailer loaded with his car and canoe and Christin following in her car) to Lansing MI to begin his 4-5 year Ph.D. program at Michigan State.  Christin has a new job as health policy analyst for Michigan Academy of Family Practice. Way to go Christin!

     Nick flew in from Montana where he had spent several days celebrating with the Kane's. He arrived with wonderful baked goodies and the BEST almond roca this family has ever had. Nicki starts a new job after the holidays--her internship location lifted its hiring freeze to offer her a job. Way to go Nicki!

     Emily spent the week before Christmas with Korey's family and re-joined us on the 23rd as well.  The fun begins!

  

    Christmas Eve was spent (as always) at Diane's and it was very special this year because Abbey and Craig (the newlyweds)  joined us from Minneapolis! It was so great to have them with us.

   Christmas dinner and celebration were tremendous and I found myself wishing it would slow down so that can enjoy every look, every laugh, every gift and every conversation.  Merry Christmas