Making Merry

I didn't have too much Christmas spirit this year.  I worked right up until the holiday so I had no time to just enjoy the moment.  My grandma recently passed away and my dad was exhausted and ill so he called to say he wasn't coming.  Also, I'm still getting used to hosting Christmas at our house.  For a hundred years, we've either gone to my Grandma's house or my mom and Bobber's house.  Old habits do die hard.  Also, there was no snow.  This wasn't December, it was more March...brown, damp and kind of ugly.   I don't like sentimental movies or stories, but I've realized I, myself, am sentimental.  So each Christmas is supposed to feel like the last Christmas or my childhood Christmas.  This is what I was thinking.  Then my family showed up.  You put the people you love all around you, throw in good food, tasty wine and thoughtful gifts and that is Christmas.  I forgot about the snow problem and made merry.

Tula and Grandma Kat warming up for presents.

Emma could barely stand to wait for everyone to arrive so presents could be opened.  Remember when Christmas morning was THAT exciting?  Now, I just can't wait for the food.

Legos are a great invention.  Ian spent so many hours with this thing and was so proud of the outcome...the Beasley's, oops Weasley's 3-story house, pretty cool.

Tula's first Christmas.

Everyone crowds around the little gal, those puffy cheeks and her little squawks of delight.  As the first  baby in my family, she just seems like a little miracle to me.  Unexpected and so welcome.

You never really know which gifts are going to stick.  Owen loves this watch.  Began telling us the time every 5 minutes.  I think its the first time he's become aware of time at all.  Oops.  Hope we don't intrude on the beautiful innocence of the timeless childhood.  They generally pay no attention to time.  I'm so envious.

One thing we did that I feel sure was unique to others' holiday celebrations.  We moved furniture.  After a large bloody mary, Mike decided we should all move our large TV and huge couch downstairs.  There was some chaos and some very heavy lifting and an hour or two later, we had two rooms that looked awesome and like new.  It's all kind of a blur now.

Taking a break in the new sunroom (poker room).

The new sunroom. Technically, its a poker room but what you can't see are a couple of rocking chairs and a little fireplace heater.

Then I pushed everyone outside to take pictures.  This really was a spontaneous holiday.

There were many attempts at this picture.  I probably wouldn't be good at portrait photography because I usually like the candid photos.  I almost like something "off" about the photo.

Love it.

Yep, this was my favorite one.

I totally love this photo of my Mom and Stepdad.  

House sparrows everywhere.

Dinner was a bit delayed due to the furniture moving, but we did eventually sit down to a fabulous ham.

Post-dinner poker where Owen took it all.  He would sit there looking over the top of his cards at everyone saying, "You guys do not know what I'm doing."  And, indeed, we did not.

And we settled into our new TV room (now perfectly located in the basement) to watch the Packers beat the Bears.  We're a mixed family so some were happier than others.