I mentioned Christmas was BIG this year.  We hosted!  Love, love, love the hosting.  I like it more than presents, no joke…well, save the 4 hours I spent grocery shopping.  But even that wasn’t too bad, as I dared not take the girls on such an outing.  I shall construct a snapshot essay of our holiday, for anyone interested…

Auntie Amanda recently adopted 2 kittens, which was the joy of the holiday for the girls.  Those kittens were chased from one end of this house to the other by both Sara & Kelly, and our cats.  This is Arabella, the world’s cuddliest and most docile kitten.  She put up with A LOT.

This is Katalina.  She put up with very little.  I call her “Mini-Sydney”, and found that she matched my rug perfectly, which is what I look for in a good pet.

December was record-setting for total snow accumulation, so there was plenty of white stuff around for playtime.  Auntie Amanda wins a gold medal for VOLUNTEERING for snow duty.

Before dressing for church, Grandmommy and Grandaddy let the girls open 1 present, and here is Greg, demonstrating the many uses of a tutu.

We met up with my family at church, and had a fantastic time.  I can’t remember the last time I danced and sang so much.

Here are the people who have been putting up with me for the last 8 years.

Here are the people who have been putting up with me FOREVER.

When we got home, we had a wonderful dinner of Chicken & Dumpling Soup, something Greg’s Mom serves every Christmas Eve.  I’m too embarrassed to admit how many bowls I ate.  AND THEN…SANTA STOPPED BY.  No joke.  He told us he was on his way to California, but the girls had been so good this year, he wanted to drop them off a special present (pjs and slippers, of course), and then he’d swing back through later.  As you can see, Sara was ridiculously excited, having met the big man himself.  Kelly was hit by shock and awe.  And raw fear.

The girls hurried into their Rapunzel pj’s, and got busy preparing for Santa.  Glittered oats were scattered with great fury throughout the front yard.

Santa and Rudolph’s platter was assembled with great care.  Sara was heard saying as she marched up the stairs, “No talking Kelly!  GO STRAIGHT TO SLEEP!  I’m not missing out on presents because you chit chat in bed!”

Santa returned and brought the American Girl Doll Felicity Bed that Sara had so wanted.  Which she quickly stripped down and turned into some kind of garage for her new Barbies and Barbie car.  Kids are funny.

I love this picture of Lina looking on as Grandaddy and Sara carefully build a marble ramp.

My favorite gift were the gloves Santa gave Auntie Amanda.  They match her cat, again, reinforcing my belief that cats should match things.

I can prove my theory: Auntie Jess and Uncle Randy, aka The Newlyweds, don’t have cats, hence, they received mis-matchy aprons.  See?  Iron-clad theory.

I shouldn’t leave out the fact that there were MANY shows, most featuring new rainbow ribbon wands, new Disney pillows, and how on earth they convinced Auntie Amanda to be in this show, I’ll never know.  They must have threatened to take her new karoake machine. Just say it with me: I give funny gifts.

Sara has now proven her own theory: a tutu goes with EVERYTHING.  And certainly, in every show.

I hosted a dinner for both of our families Christmas night.  When I am hosting a dinner for 14 (the menu is too long to even think about typing), I don’t have time to snap pictures, but they are here in my heart.  It was a candlelight dinner, all of us in the dining room, laughing and talking and enjoying a wonderful Christmas together.  The Cranberry Mint Juleeps didn’t hurt either.  A huge thanks to my family of Sous Chefs, visiting Master Chef Uncle Randy, and my bartender Auntie Amanda.  I think everyone knows if you dare to go near my kitchen, I’ll put you to work.  Here’s a knife..get busy…stay away from the cheese grater (I’m hoping my thumb eventually grows back).

The first picture in this post is of tiny red paper trees I made out of toothpicks and Starbursts.  I had one for every place setting.  The girls and I got a kick out of making these.  I did get one picture of a craft that WORKED, which are peppermints inside votive holders…and I’m omitting a craft that DID NOT WORK…red glittered candlestick holders.  I really don’t want to talk about the atrocious mess and how tacky they turned out…maybe later.  But you gotta try, you know?

The next day, we all awoke in a food coma.  Greg convinced us all that rock climbing would pull us into consciousness.  He was right!  We picked up Avery too, and she quickly shimmied to the top.  Sara got close, and Auntie Amanda climbed next to her to lead the way.

Kelly?  Let’s just say we’re hoping she warms up the experience the NEXT TIME we go.

Greg and I showed them how it was done.

And with new Barbie movies, and Shirley Temple movies, and TOYS, the whole weekend ended with a 2 day Cousin Avery-fest.  As you can see them here, eating popcorn, and Kelly telling me to MOVE OUTA DA WAY, so she could see her favorite thing on earth…A MOOOVIE. Did I leave out the part where we took the girls swimming?  I’m hoping they sleep to the New Year.

Lots of family.  Lots of food.  Lots of candlelight.  Lots of Jesus.  Lots of pie.  Lots of Santa.  Just everything wonderful and warm and overflowing with juicy traditional goodness…I hope your Christmas was as precious as ours.