Christmas 2018: Dinner/Dirty Santa

Christmas Day continued to be busy and fun, but sadly I did not get too many pictures. Some of these are very random as a result, and others were taken by my children and shared on the family feed.

Cole and Lukas.

Sarah and Susie.

We had twenty-six people here for dinner, including my sisters, Rick, Steve, Cindie, and Eric. Three tables had to be set up to accommodate everyone, and we all pitched in on food so that there was plenty to eat.

 Yummy appetizers!

 I didn't get any of these, although I did get some cheese ball and crackers at the end of the day.

 And we had some great desserts, including Andrew's bacon-crusted apple pie.

Then, all who wanted to participate in Dirty Santa (which was all of us except the little kids) gathered in the living room around a new pile of gifts.

Rick, Andrew, Jessica, and Trinity.

Leslie, Cindie, Eric, Steve, Vanessa.

Lisa, Curt and Lukas, Craig, Emily, Leslie, Cindie.

Sarah.

Cole started things off.

and Jenny loved her gift from... Sarah, I think. Maybe Cole.

After dinner and Dirty Santa, many of us went over to see Steve and Cindie's new home. I felt quite nostalgic upon seeing one of my parents' ornaments from my childhood.

It was a busy day, and back at home, Titan fell asleep on the floor of the living room with a Lego mat under his arm.

His Aunt Lisa zonked out, too

as did his Uncle Cole (although I think Cole just posed for fun for this picture. Notice that he, too, has a Lego mat under his arm like Titan.)

What a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas 2018: Morning

Christmas morning at last! This blog entry is picture-intense, but when you have twenty people, one tree, and a billion packages...

Just look at all those presents! Santa earned those cookies the kids left out for him!

Some even spilled out from under the tree and were perched on the furniture.

As usual, my children wanted to line up in age order to come down the stairs. I have told them that they don't have to, but the tradition continues.

And down they come! Cambria, Titan, Trinity holding Lukas, Andrew, Vanessa, and JC and Lisa on the stairs.

Ian (no feet in the jammies now!) plus Cole on the stairs.

Kate, Emily, Julie, and Curt, then Jessica and Sarah added to the stairway.

Emily.

Cole danced his way into the living room.

Let the unwrapping begin!

Lisa holds the remnants of Santa's snack while Cole reads Santa's letter to Julie to her. (She had left him a note.) Jessica admires Cambria's puffy earmuffs.

My kids helped their kids make sure they got the gifts that were for them and not someone else's by mistake.

At this point it was very, very loud, but very, very happy at the same time, too!

Craig waded through the discarded wrapping paper and dodged gifts to get onto the stairs and take some movies.

Aunt Lisa opens one of her gifts. There was so much stuff that even the furniture was put to use in holding discarded gift wrap!

Cambria opening a Pony Pal type gift from Craig and me.

Mila shows one of her new My Little Ponies. (Not from us!)

Can you see Titan among all the gifts and wrapping paper?

It was loud and crazy, wasn't it, Aunt Lisa?

Curt liked the new robe we got him - I think it made him feel like an adult!

Cambria with a new book and a unicorn headband.

Another pony for Mila!

And a noise-making fluffy pink stick unicorn for Cambria!

"Thanks, Kyle!" Curt liked the gifts his brother sent him.

Sarah and her family got me a neat metal wall sculpture. Love it!

Julie loved the ornament that Addie made her and sent home with us when we visited them in Florida.

Addie sent Kate a doll that she had sewed - her first sewing project ever.

This was just the beginning of the day - Christmas dinner and another celebration with the great-aunts and uncles was still to come!

Christmas 2018: Christmas Cookies!

Making Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve day is a tradition in our home. While it does add a little to the chaos of the day, it is also a very good way to keep everyone busy and happy. This year my kids ran the production line.

 Mila, Cambria, Emily, Kate, Titan.

 Titan, Ian, Julie, Cambria.

It's hard work making cookies, right, Titan? But someone has to be the taste tester!

 Cambria working hard.

 Ian has already completed two cookies!

Can you believe that there is no frosting on Mila's pretty white sweater? (Yet?)

 Cambria places some dragees on a cookie.

 More taste testing by Kate.

 Julie is so proud of this cookie, and rightfully so!

 The finished cookies begin piling up. 

 Believe it or not, the mess this year wasn't too bad!

Looks like there was a decorating contest between Vanessa and Emily, and traitor Cole voted for Vanessa! (That's right, Boompa! Give him bunny ears!!)

Vanessa was kind enough to make the cookies for me this year. I have not felt well for a few months, and this was a huge help to me.

 Goodness! Yet ANOTHER taste tester!!

 Kate gets a little help from her mama.

 After the little ones cleared out, JC and Trinity came in to decorate theirs.

 Yummy!

 I have not had success with the bag method of frosting, but it worked well for them.

Aunt Lisa did some decorating, too!

I think we set a new record of number of cookies set out for Santa Claus. Every child chose their favorite from among they'd made, and we put all six on a plate which then went on the mantle.