Holiday Festivities

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas this year. It has been at least 4 years since we have spent Christmas in Portland with my family and it was so much fun!

A week before Christmas we went to my grandparents' house in Tacoma and helped them put up and decorate their tree. My cousins Abbie and Chet and Abbie's fiancee Morgan joined us. We had a yummy chili dinner and fun decorating.

Christmas Eve, eve...the night before Christmas eve the kids got their new jammies and we watched Polar Express and had popcorn together.

I didn't get very many pictures of Christmas Eve at my dads house...and even fewer good ones...We got there in the early afternoon and enjoyed talking, playing and eating! Beka, Dave & Dean were there as well as my Aunt Ruth and Grandpa Thomas, and brother Kevin (and my Dad & Connie, of course!). Maren got a new CD and some Fancy Nancy books!

Joel got this "Responsibility Chart" (which he LOVES. Seriously.) and a united states puzzle.

We handed down this train to Dean, and he really seemed to like it!

My mom's house was decorated so cute this year..I loved her tree - all red, blue and white.

We brought our stockings and did that first thing on Christmas morning, then saved the present opening for later in the afternoon.
It was a nice quiet, laid back day, with just Mom & Del, our family and Kevin. Just right.

The kids got goggles in their stockings.

Maren got this new dress and necklaces from Mimi...as soon as she got the dress on she started dancing!

And Mimi danced with her!

Christina sent these super-soft sweaters from Germany for Greg & Kevin.

We ate good food, played games and had tons of fun! This is Joel's new Labrynth game (thank you Jodi & JR!)...it is really fun for kids and adults!

The week following Christmas, Kevin's girlfriend Lisa came to Portland to meet the family and see the sights. They came up here and spent a night with us and we had a lot of fun! She is brave for meeting ALL of our crazy family and everyone loved her. Thanks for making the trip up here!