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!

Comments

[AVZC]

What a fun Christmas! I have to tell you- I am totally impressed by your photography. Those are some beautiful shots. Enjoy the last 2/5 ths.

[Lee]

What wonderful shots, what great memories! My favourite is the orange can top ornament. Priceless! Thanks so much for sharing such a lovely time. Enjoy the rest of it!

[mexicanwoman]

Thank you for sharing. More joy. Less shame. Yay.

[Peggy]

LOL!!!!! Thanks for sharing, Brene!! Although I'm absolutely certain we would all enjoy your butt jump picture!!!! Courage, my dear!!! How wonderful you caught the fun moments!!

[jenny]

OK, call me superficial...I should be commenting on the spirit of family in your shots (which IS wonderful), but where did you get your great pajamas?!

[deb]

Lovely pics.

[Stacey D]

Those are great pictures and convey such great feelings of your time with your family. i absolutely love the joy on your face with Charlie on the trampoline. Of course your kindergarten picture is priceless. We have on our tree a gold spray painted fish with macaroni made by my husband in kindergarten. What I LOVE about it is how he wrote his name in all capitals on the back with huge spaces in between each letter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[Lisa D.]

Love the pics! I so love the orange juice top! So cute!
Happy New Year to you and yours. :D

[traceyclark]

pure joy. i love it brene. thanks for sharing. xo

[whollyjeanne]

love, love, love the kazoo tradition. may have to steal it for next year. or some gathering in between.

[Kimberlee (Class of 05)]

Thanks for sharing some wonderful shots! They're some that the kids will always be able to look back on and "see" the faces of their lives. Well, not just the kids but all family members too!

[kelly rae]

seriously, i'm so coming to your house for christmas next year :)
xxooo!

[mb]

if your kids are into kazoos - you should get the christmas jug band albums. a bay area (mill valley) collection of musicians. good stuff!

[Deb J]

Great pictures. Looks like you have been having some great fun. That's good.

[Sally]

It felt good to read about your Christmas and see pictures of your loved ones. Thank you! So strange seeing Christmas pics where people are outside and you can see them as they are without the six or seven layers of clothing and outer gear we wear up here in Canada! Goodness, if that trampouline were here, it would be a jump, slip, slide and freeze where you land until Spring. Best wishes to you and yours Brene and here's to a magical 2010!

[erin BUtson]

Love your family pics & your kazoo tradition. I just might drive my family crazy with that one. But who doesn't love a good kazoo?!?

[Peggy]

Your family photos are so awesome!

May you continue to have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[Jenn]

Such a beautiful family! Happy New Year, Brene! Thanks for sharing yourself with the world. We need it.

[monica phillips]

What a wonderful idea about the Kazoo!
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!!! :-)

[monica phillips]

What a wonderful idea about the Kazoo!
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!!! :-)

[Kathy]

Happy New Year, Brene' and family. That's all I had to say, but now I see that the post above me is about Bananagrams. That was a hit with us this year, too. Like Scrabble but without all the hang time.

[Dorothy Sanderson]

I received Ree's Pioneer Cookbook today. I didn't know I was a winner but I am so excited and want to thank you so very mcuh.
Dorothy Sanderson
from Kansas.

[Bahieh]

Hi Brene!

Awesome pics. :)

I think your word of the year should be TRAMPOLINE!!! hehe

xoxox