White Christmas

Christmas afternoon, after naps...

The old multi-function boogie board got dusted off for Winter 2010!

Blythe and Joy loved their first "sled" ride

How they've grown since this snow day!

By this morning there was enough snow that Jake and I had some serious fun in some serious cold with our big girl while the little ones were warm and snug taking their naps! Here's the footage...

Snow angel...
Surfing lessons!

The Best Christmas Ever

This was the sweetest Christmas morning I could have imagined, more special than I'll be able to adequately describe. The morning started with the Christmas story and stockings...

Look, Santa remembered the crayons- the only thing she asked him for! She was amazed.

Blythe and Joy had the whole unwrapping thing down pat.

A little bit of the grass being greener...

Big eyed-Blythey.

Then came a delish breakfast of Emily York's recipe for Holiday French toast along with some grandparents and the opening of more gifts. One of those was a little mixer, which led us to discuss where a mixer should be used...

Which led us to our formerly horribly chaotic garage-turned new playroom, courtesy of some hard work from the best husband/daddy in the world. Amazing what organization, carpet, chalkboard paint on sheetrock, and some cool Ikea pendant lights can do... now there's suddenly room for our easel, new table from Grammy, and other toys we simply didn't have room for... and of course... the new kitchen!!!!

And yes, they can all play on it at once! We're still working on some odds and ends- need a bulletin board to go above the kitchen, etc., but the new playroom is coming along!

And everyone enjoyed it.

My Grandaddy and Granny Joan came by for a while, and he got in on the drawing and playing with babydolls.

This was my favorite part- just spending the day with family, watching that snow pour down on the first white Christmas Atlanta has had since 1882!

Christmas dinner was pulled pork, pear and gorgonzola salad, gorgonzola walnut potatoes, followed with cranberry apple crumble.

Allen Family Christmas Eve

Jake's mom's side of the family has a party every Christmas Eve, and this year was a sweet time with all, as always!! Here are some lovely cousins and aunts!

Janie between two of her favorite guys!

Joy showing off her walkin...

Blythe was enthralled with a non-child-friendly tree with all kinds of glittery, shiny things at eye level!

Cousin Maverick sneaking a kiss from Blythe.

All the second cousins, minus our precious Cade and Luke, who were getting ready for their New Zealand trip!

Then afterwards is that magical Christmas Eve drive home, seeing all the lights and knowing what fun lies ahead after kiddos go to bed for Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Elliott Christmas

All my family (with the 9 grandchildren 7 and under- 5 of whom are 2 and under!) was at Mom's the entire week before Christmas. The twins and I had to come back home (where Jake was studying anyways) for a couple of days in the beginning to deal with ear infections, urgent care, etc. After getting some antibiotics, we were back in the family circus at Mom's!

Feeling much better after getting some medicine, and really "getting into" Grammy's toy box...

Decorating Christmas cookies is one of my favorite things we do!

It's fun how you tell whose cookies are whose according to personalities... Katie's will be very precise and artistic, the little girls' will be heavy on sprinkles, Scott's will be red, Ian's will have lots of icing, etc etc.

Ashley and Abby Jane (3 months apart) wore tutus and beads every day almost all day.

Jodi and Katie (6) decided we should run races one afternoon before Grandaddy and Granny Joan came to dinner. Here are the runners. Yes, my child felt like keeping on the tutu for the race.
On your mark, get set,
GO!

Swinging at the park one morning...

Chris brought the idea of an annual Christmas shrimp boil. It was a huge success.
Then on Dec. 23 came Cousin Christmas.
An attempt at a Grammy picture with the nine grandchildren. See Joy making a great escape at the bottom...
Opening a FABULOUS set of musical instruments...
Precious Maggie has to be one the most darling baby girls to have ever existed. I LOVE HER.
All my aunts and uncles on Dad's side for a fun, different Christmas dinner of Mellow Mushroom, FABULOUS salad...
and of course I had to try some new cupcakes.

Mom's backyard on Christmas Eve before we all went home. Everyone around the lake puts Christmas trees on their docks- beautiful at night! I love you, family- it was such a sweet time with you!

Gillies Christmas

The Gillies (Jake's sister's family) flew out Christmas Day to spend several weeks in New Zealand, so we "did Christmas" with them a week early!

Here lies the difference between their all-boys home and our all-girls home- just look at the sheer number of construction vehicles that were opened.

Poor Blythe and Joy- despite the cheeriness of the new bows they're wearing that their Aunt Bets gave them, they were on the beginning of an ear infection that night- you can see it in their eyes...

Christmas chaos is great!

We love you, Gillies family- enjoy the warm Kiwi climate for us! See you when you get back!