greatest hits: christmas, part I

as it should be, it's new year's eve and my pants are too tight.

we have indulged this holiday, in the very best way.

this christmas was a big deal.  chris' family lives out of state.  we see each other when we can make it work throughout the year, but holidays are always spent on our respective home turfs.  this christmas his entire family hopped aboard an airplane and flew to big d to spend christmas with our little family.  it means the world to us and no words can describe how proud and grateful we were to have them here. 

our house was full of children and laughter and tears (from time to time) and cookie-baking and lasagna-making and presents and fellowship and love.  it'll go down in the books for sure.

here's a peek:

1) nana gave cooking lessons.

 2) every family has a crazy uncle.  ours is my bil, chad.

 3) the highlight of christmas for me was hanging out with my sil, karin.

 these two are best friends, and i am lucky to be a part of it at all.

 4) the idea of opening gifts at mimi and grandpa's can be exhausting.

 5) creepy husband.

 6) santa visited.

 7) yoda and darth maul came by to say hi.

 8) cousins exchanged gifts.

 9) we went for breakfast with zero incidence of attitude problems from the kids (i'm kidding, btw.  breakfast is not breakfast without an attitude problem from at least one of my boys ;)

 10) rookie fire-fighters were trained at uncle matt's station.

 11) we blended families.

 12) cousins bonded.

 13) uncle chad was sacrificed.

14) boys were boys.

 15) best friendships were formed.

 16) chritmas lights were properly appreciated from horse-drawn carriages.

we had fun and we are exhausted.

thank you for traveling to spend the holiday with us, sweet family.

we love you so much.

tonight we are eating our traditional nye dinner, roasting marshmallows, watching the aggies beat duke, and hopefully making it 'til midnight.

how was your week?  what are you looking forward to?

enjoy your evening, friends, whether it be spent out on the town in sparkly clothes or in the comfort of your home in green sweatpants (ahem).

love,

coco