Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  This was the scene before the girls came in...the room all lit with the tree, and presents everywhere...I guess Snowbell gave a good report, because Santa visited us!

We started with stockings, which were filled with all kinds of fun treats and gifts.

Leiden is a reading machine, so she got all the Roald Dahl books...she will be through them in no time, but hopefully they will become favorites.  There are a couple in the set that I've never even heard of!

The girls got new crayons, and markers, and coloring books, and movies, and it goes on and on!

Santa came through and got the girls each a pair of skates.  Leiden got in-line skates, and the other two got traditional skates.  Rudolph saved the day with his addition of safety gear.

There were Lalaloopsy dolls to go around for both Mac and Mimi...just what they wanted.

Santa even thought of me!  I got a pair of new running shoes--bright orange!

After the hustle was over, we got dressed and got ready to head to Grandmere's house for the rest of he festivities.

There were tons more gifts there!  We managed to keep the girls away while we at a giant breakfast, also tradition.  There were eggs, and bacon, and biscuits, and sausages...craziness!

Before the scene was obliterated in a wash of wrapping paper, we took a nice picture of us girls.

Then a silly picture of us girls.  I'm not sure which I like best.  

The girls got more stuff...great big sticker books from Madison and Joni...

Leiden was introduced to the world of Barbies,

and both Mac and Mimi got their own Razor scooters!

Everyone else also had a great morning, with Uncle Mark sporting an awesome U of U hat,

Dad and his portable potty,

me with my gift certificate to the gun range, and many more.

What a lovely Christmas morning.  Such generosity shown by all, and a wonderful morning spent with family.

After eating such a giant breakfast, no on is very hungry at lunchtime, but after the girls left with Brad, I made this cranberry cream cheese dip, which is SO good.  I must remember to make it more often than just at the holidays.

We just relaxed for a few hours until the crew showed up again for Christmas dinner...swedish meatballs!  My dear mother does these every year for Christmas, and while they are not my favorite, I can and will certainly enjoy her efforts in the name of tradition.  My mom works very hard to uphold the traditions that are important to our family, and enjoys doing it.

After dinner, we had a white elephant exchange, which was pretty funny.  My contribution was only so so, come up with rather at the last minute.

What I GOT, however, was crazy.  A remote control flying bass.  This makes it look like just a little, normal fish size blow up toy...oh no.  It is like 6 feet long.  Wow.

And my mother's gift was horrific.  A porcelain horse, dressed up in a dress with bloomers.  Wow again.  And I mean really, wow.  Creepy as all get out, but worth some serious amusement value!  We laughed for ages!  I guess she's going to put it away and show it to the girls, and hope Mimi doesn't concoct a bad dream featuring the dressed up horse.

Very last on the docket was raspberry chocolate torte.  SO good, and such a rich ending to a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  It has been a lovely day!