80's Rock Star

What do I do with this hair??!

Christmas Dinner

Had Christmas dinner at Denis and Sallie's.  We opened up the evening with a little more unwrapping...a great surprise for my kids who'd been lectured all the way there about being patient and waiting until after dinner!  These two cousins, Connor and Brendan were so happy when Grandpa Denis kept piling presents on their lap, but they looked so funny trying to hang on to all of it.

Lauren and her aunt Anne shared a spot on the couch.

The McCarthys from San Diego snuggled up for the present opening. Mike, Helen and little Ian.

Claire was kept busy with this gift and it's ribbon for a while.  And she did actually have a better time than it would appear in many of these pictures!

Look at sweet Ian giving me a smile!

Connor,Brendan,Anne,Tyler and Ronan take in the view of the lights and the river.

Grandpa Denis hard at work carving the giant turkey.

Thomas enjoying the card game he received from Mike and Helen...we have been playing it LOTS since then...great gift!

I had to capture just a little of the fact that we did do more this Christmas than just open presents.  Here Brian and his brothers visit with their dad after dinner.  Nice to have everyone together.

Little cousins have some playtime.  Again Claire is not putting on her best face...stinker!

This one is going in a frame!

Hope these guys will be close like Connor and Brendan!

Santa has left the building and we MUST get out of the house!

McCarthys in motion!

After eating and drinking our way through the last few days we decided it was definitely time for a little outdoor activity.  In the aftermath of Santa's deposit of toys (and a fish), we headed to the Corrales Rec Center and set the kids loose on their bikes.  We also practiced our jump shots, tossed the football, and jogged Clio around the park.  What a refreshing time with just the seven of us...not rushing to be anywhere or open the next present.  I feel a new tradition coming on!

 Thomas was being a stinker!

 Water break.

 The boy and his ball...he didn't put it down, ever!

 What a view!

 Snack break.

 Silly sisters.

 The big and the little.

 Nice hair, Connor!

Merry Christmas!!



Christmas Eve

Ronan hangs out with (great)Grandpa Bobby and then heads outside for a little fun in the holiday sun.

 The family gathers for a laugh at a "voice altering" device on the computer.  Watching old videos is funny enough with out sounding like a chipmunk.

 Claire and Ro have a Christmas jam session while waiting for the present action to start.

 Thomas and his Grandma organized Christmas trivia.  I can't remember who won the grand prize of an extra "scratcher"....I think we all got one in the end, but no big $$ winners this year.

Ronan gets silly with Uncle Jeff.

 Gracie and her daddy.

 Claire received a baby doll and couldn't decide if she should give the doll the pacifier or use it herself. :)

Thomas is so happy to have a new lego set...the Hogwarts express.  He is upstairs working on it as I write.

And little Grace loves her baby doll too!

 Connor got his much anticipated Stinky the Trash Truck!

 Lauren was by far the most excited about Christmas and Santa and presents and all the hoopla.   She had to sit with me for a bit to calm down after getting a little bonkers under the tree looking for the next thing with her name on it.    But just like last year, her reactions did not disappoint...she was THRILLED with everything that she opened and did a good job saying thank you.

 I love this picture of my parents laughing!!  I don't know what was so funny...

...but I think it had to do with these two...Jeff and Grandma Joy (or as he calls her, Old Bird)!

After the festivities at my mom's we headed home for naps and got ready to reconvene for Mass.  Mass was a nightmare, but an important part of our tradition nonetheless.  Having two 1yr olds packed in shoulder to shoulder with all of the "once a year Church-goers"  is not a good time.  I almost threw down with a lady in front of us that had the nerve to try to squeeze part of my family out of the pew and then to tell Lauren (who couldn't see or hear what was going on in the church because it was so very packed and is 5 not 15) to quit playing with my phone and listen to the priest!!!!  Bah Humbug, Lady...go sit somewhere else and quit talking to my kids or I will make you hold Ronan!  :)

After Mass it was off to bed, eager for Santa to come and eat the cookies and mild we left out.