Christmas 2014

The kids proudly present the first Xmas tree in the new house!  (Bottom-heavy!) We haven't really decorated a tree for the past few years, due to a constant state of "we're moving and we can't find anything" and "the kids would rather throw the ornaments across the room than carefully place them on a picky tree".

A white Christmas season this year...

Another Christmas Eve mass in the books...we made it to the end this year, which was a huge improvement from last year when Pat threatened turning Santa away as we stormed out of the church halfway through mass.   Aside from Margot making a b-line to the manger during communion, we did great!  Below, she's sad she could spend more time on the altar...

No family pics by the tree this year...an impossible challenge.

I found the children "nestled in their beds while visions of 'Mickey Saves Christmas' danced in their heads".

The traditional meal for Santa and his team.  Two bite-sized carrots?!

Wound up!

Christmas morning eats.  Chocolate doughnut, I mean, frosting.

The theme this year was "dress up", which is exactly what we did!

Officer T.

The distribution center.

Thankfully, no tables were harmed by the new chainsaw, which sounded just like the real thing.

Policewoman M reminds me of a 21st birthday experience I had in South Bend.  Eeek.  Nice whisk.

The kids even helped with the Christmas meal...by cleaning the dishes.

 

 Grandpa gave Margot the dollhouse that I had as a child-- with a fresh coat of paint!  It was a replica of our house, made by a distant relative. 

Grandpa knows the way to this little boy's heart...a John Deere. :)