Merry Christmas, Everyone...
Every year on the Saturday before Christmas we have an early Christmas with Alan's parents at their house. We do the whole thing: the traditional breakfast, exchanging gifts, playing games and taking naps. My kids consider it a great thing to have two Christmas Days!
Of course the Morgan group always gets together one night before Christmas and as the size of the family increases, so does the fun! This year we put together a "live" nativity that included all the cousins. We even had a brand new baby boy cousin to play the part of baby Jesus! Be sure to check out the "real" manger that my sister Melanie managed to round up. The cousins always exchange gifts and the parents enjoy visiting with each other. We missed Jared who wasn't feeling well and of course, Matt, Elasha and kids who are now living in Spokane.
Always a time of excitement and good food. That's what I think of when I think of Christmas Eve. Everyone helped with the dinner (twice a year I wish I had two ovens!) We had a fun game of Christmas charades and then tried to encourage everyone to go to bed so that Santa could come. The kids watched the Internet all evening to keep track of where Santa was. . . .
. . . and, sure enough, Santa came to our house. He always manages to bring us things we were hoping for as well as a few surprises -- things we didn't even know we wanted!
Remember the drought we've been having? Well, I think it might possibly be over. It has been raining or snowing ever since before Halloween. The day after Christmas we really got dumped on! It was hard to believe that we could get so much snow in such a short time. Luckily our power stayed on -- many people were without for long periods of time. I decided to take a long shower this morning. Usually I feel guilty about using too much water!
Alan's brother Barrie and his family flew in from Dallas the day after Christmas -- (considering the storm, it's amazing they actually got here!) Alan's mom had us all over for dinner and games one night and we took the opportunity to try out the s'more maker we gave her for Christmas. It was great fun to be all together since we don't get to see them very often.
We did the fondue party again -- we love it! Too much yummy food. I've decided the holidays are just one big food fest. I'm not even going to stand on the scales -- just start exercising again! This year my brother Mark and his wife Cherry came. Also my Aunt Lesa with her family and my Mom's cousin Gale Francis with his wife and son. It was a fairly big group when you add my own "little" family! I love the beginning of a new year -- it holds so much promise!
Our last child is losing his front teeth. It comes in handy to have a dentist for a Grandpa when a stubborn tooth doesn't want to just fall out by itself. It also comes in handy to have a brave owner of the loose tooth! Great idea for multi-tasking Moms -- a Christmas party and a trip to the dentist all wrapped into one!
Madeleine is missing her digital camera (it was accidentally dropped into sand on the beach -- a word to the wise...) and so she used mine to take a million pictures of the gingerbread house she made with some school friends. Don't worry, we won't show you the whole million.
Last but not least, we have a new baby cousin, (remember the real baby Jesus?) My sister Megan and her husband Brian welcomed their fifth baby and second boy into their family on December 1st and have named him Andrew. He's a real cutie...
Breaking news...another new baby boy cousin. Jarom Hulme was born to my sister Melanie and her husband Rick on Mon. Dec. 29th weighing in at 7 lbs. 4oz, measuring 20". Now all the new babies are here!