Our Christmas, in photos.

Undeniably, I'm borrowing Norbyah's idea by "writing"  about our Christmas with family and friends by sharing a few of my favorite photographs.  We were incredibly busy, keeping up with all of our favorite Christmas-time traditions and, at the same time, maintaining our (Dave's) schedule (he had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas day.)  Unpredictable weather patterns and a little bit of a cold (Emmett) tried slowing us down, but we pressed on.

On Christmas Eve day, Theo and I met the Pritchard family at Olbrich for the Holiday train and gingerbread house exhibit. Theo enjoyed the trains, almost as much as he LOVED playing with Julia, Ruaun, and (most of all) Chewie (pictured with him, above.)  Afterwards, we shared lunch (thanks again, Janiece and Ted!!) and spent the rest of the day talking about our adventure.  We can't wait to see you guys again.

As has been our tradition for the past four years now, we shared Christmas Eve with the Colby family.  Dave interned with Tom (aka Tommy, to Theo) before he joined the department and has been my husband's mentor, both personally and professionally, for over 10 years now.  Tom was our Best Man on our wedding day, and his youngest son Mark (holding Emmett, above) is Theo's Godfather.  

On December 24th we gather at the Colby residence for LouAnn's infamous Christmas Eve meal: grilled brats, a Brennan's fruit salad, cheesy scalloped potatoes...  This tradition started with the Colby's oldest son's military career.  During his limited leaves, he craved good ol' Wisconsin meals when he was able to come home.  This meant brats and burgers and corn on the cob at Christmas. Works for us!!

Theo loves visiting the Colby's house because Tom and LouAnn have saved and stored Mark's entire Playmobile collection from when he was a kid.  Theo, increasingly a Lego-man himself, loves to dive into the cedar chest full of Mark's childhood treasures.  He spent hours playing with Bud, Mark, and Tom.

We also share Christmas Eve Mass with the Colby family.  This year, however, due to the fact that Dave was at work and "midnight" mass doesn't start until 9pm, we saved church for Christmas morning. I didn't think it fair, to subject the other parishioners to my over-stimulated, over-tired babes, who I knew I wouldn't be able to handle on "my own" (without their Papa).

Christmas morning. Presents under the tree.  The boys had so much fun, opening and exploring and SHARING.  Dave and I, with our coffee cups in hand, enjoyed the quiet hours of the morning with our little men, marveling at the gifts left for them under our tree. 

Gregg (Emmett's Godfather) and Lindsay joined us on Christmas morning, too, to share in the coffee and fun of a house full of children on Christmas Day. Traditionally, Gregg brings books as gifts, and this year was no different.  He always chooses something special for each of the boys, and I always inscribe them for him (he prefers my handwriting) and them make them safe for special occasions.  

After our morning at home, Dave headed to work and the boys and I ventured to Fort Atkinson for Christmas Day with members of the S extended family.  The photo above speaks volumes about what transpired at Uncle Tom and Aunt Anita's house, because Theo and Emmett NEVER fall asleep in the car.

Emmett has been waking earlier than the rest of the family lately, and I've been taking advantage of our alone time together between 7 and 8am.  He is talking and growing so much. He loves to read.  And sing. And build. And just play.  He is my sunshine, early in the morning, and into the darkest of night.

(Emmett with Grampy. Their resemblance strikes me.)

(Aunt Moony with her baby, Sam.)

(Cousins.)

(Brothers.)

Dave's parents and siblings and our S nieces and nephews infiltrated our house on the 26th for another family celebration. Traditionally, we retreat to Nanny and Grampy's house on Christmas day, after leaving Tom and Anita's house. Since Dave had to work this year, we moved our family gathering to the day after Christmas, Dave's first of 3 days off.  Dave tried his hand, for the first time, at making a standing rib roast (it was glorious) and the rest of us pitched in to make a pretty incredible meal.  We ate and opened gifts and played cards and visited and did craft projects with the kids.  My house looked like the wake of some sort of natural disaster area afterwards.  I was too tired to deal with it, however, and went straight to bed!

(I guess one way to get him to smile is by wrapping his Christmas presents in Victoria's Secret boxes!!)

(Meggan gets the prize for most creative gift. It's always fun, to render Eli speechless.)

(While my running attire may be more colorful, I'll eternally be chasing her heels.)

(Josh, Jen, and the girls.)

(Uncle Luke and Ethan... on his first Christmas. He looks as overwhelmed as I think his daddy feels when we are all together!)

(Gabe, digging out the dinosaurs. If you know a little boy who is curious AND patient, this is a great gift!!)

(Santa even made us a snowman this year!)

(Theo's gift from his Godmother... homemade play-dough.  It's kept him busy for hours, already!)

(Sledding, Theo and Gabe.)

Finally, this past weekend, we traveled north to celebrate Christmas with the P family.  All of us under one roof is becoming an impressive gathering... there are 23 of us now (hopefully, by next Christmas, we'll be 24!!)  The P family traditions include all kinds of eating (my sisters' homemade candy, prime rib and shrimp cocktail, brandy slush and grasshoppers, to name a few of my favorites...) and gifts that result from a name exchange, and reading Robert Frost.  It is becoming more and more rare, as our family grows in size, that we all fit together in one place. What I treasure more than any gift under the tree is my family, itself... each of my siblings and those that are extensions of them, and everything that makes them mine.  For better or for worse.  Family squish.