christmas (so far)
I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. As you probably noticed, I unplugged so I could focus on the kids and sink into some serious family time.
We've had a great Christmas and we're only 3/5 of the way through. The kids have four sets of grandparents. Including Christmas morning, we have five gatherings every year.
When Ellen was really little she came home from her Montessori school and said, "I'm so sad for Morgan. She only has four grandparents." I told her, "We are very lucky. All eight of your grandparents were standing in the doorway of the delivery room when you were born and they haven't missed a moment since!"
Here are some of my favorite shots from Christmas (so far!).
My mom and her husband, David (in front of a painting done by my brother).

David, my mom's husband, is a great artist. Their giftbags are as wonderful as their gifts.

So happy to see my little brother Jason and his beautiful wife Audrey. They live in San Francisco. She has a big family too, so we have to share.


My sister Barrett and her husband Frankie came down from the panhandle. She's having her first baby in May. She just found out that she's having a girl. We had to get her some skinny jeans and a tunic! I just wish I had a picture of the green patent leather flats that go with the outfit!

I love my mom's collection of our homemade ornaments. I made this in kindergarten. It's my picture on an orange juice lid.

The Christmas kazoo tradition continues. We each have our own kazoo and we're forced to play at least one or two Christmas songs. I think Jason was trying to watch the 49ers game. He should have stuck to the kazoo. I also noticed that someone appears to be hiding in the kitchen. Kazoo chicken.

My sweet niece Amaya and my brother-in-law Frankie.

My mom and Charlie are totally into it.

Christmas with my dad is all about Mexican food and roughhousing in the front yard. Here's my dad and Charlie tackling Steve.

From football to fencing.

My little sisters. Yes. They're identical twins.

Then, Christmas morning. Santa brought a trampoline and we haven't stopped jumping yet!



The trampoline has confirmed my theory that with age comes the fear of injury. I was bouncing (little bounces) and Ellen screamed, "Do a butt bump." It took me about 10 jumps to do the cost-benefit analysis in my head. Once I remembered the mechanics, I finally did it. However, you'll notice that I'm not sharing that picture with you.
Wishing you peace, love and joy this holiday season!







































![Zen: Vendetta / Cabal / Ratking [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cd3p9ENBL._SL75_.jpg)

Sunday, December 27, 2009
Reader Comments (23)
Happy New Year to you and yours. :D
xxooo!
May you continue to have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We used Banangrams this year. I'll never go back to Scrabble. Let me know if you want to play sometime! I'm not at school.. just trying to get some of that fancy ice of yours I love so much!!! :-)
We used Banangrams this year. I'll never go back to Scrabble. Let me know if you want to play sometime! I'm not at school.. just trying to get some of that fancy ice of yours I love so much!!! :-)
Dorothy Sanderson
from Kansas.
Awesome pics. :)
I think your word of the year should be TRAMPOLINE!!! hehe
xoxox