Christmas 2012

It is a joyous Christmas. We are blessed to be surrounded by our girls and to have a family that fills our house in celebration. We trimmed down our preparations this year because we are in the middle of a building project and because 7 week olds are more important than decorations. 

Our big girls had a blast working together to decorate a gingerbread house and we all got in on the fun of decorating our tree. This year Emma put the lights on the tree and discovered first hand the frustration of burnt out lights. She did an excellent job and I am hoping she will take this job over for years to come. We did our annual cookie baking but focused on more batches of easier recipes. 

I had been hoping to get our Christmas cards and Johanna's birth announcements out before Christmas but a few nights before Christmas I had to let it go. They would get out when we could do it. I hope everyone understands.

We hosted our whole family for Christmas Eve lunch again. Things got started earlier this year so we could take the annual cousin picture before the extended family arrived. The picture went smoothly and turned out great with plenty of time to spare. My Aunts and Uncles arrived and the buffet was opened. After everyone enjoyed lunch the cousins all gather for the gift exchange. Every year our girls love picking a name and shopping for a gift for a cousin. Excitement filled our living room as they opened gifts in turn. The excitement picked back up when huge snow flakes began to fall. With presents in hand the youngest generation went to play and the adults filled the living room seats. The Yankee gift exchange was a huge hit. Emma participated this year and was lucky to receive a beardo and DADD shirt, Dads Against Daughters Dating. Jim put together the best theme gift of ninja cookie cutters, gingerbread mix, teenage mutant ninja turtle t-shirt and figurine.  My Aunt Liz brought a set out liquor glasses that belonged to my grandparents to the exchange and it was stolen multiple times. My Uncle Henry was the final keeper of the glasses but then shared one of the set with each of the families who had lost it during the exchange. There was lots of laughter and fun. As the party wound down the trees and grass were coated in a layer of thick wet snow. It was going to be a surprise White Christmas. Relatives headed out into the snow to Christmas Eve Mass. Because of the early party start we were able to attend 4:00 Mass and Will and Heather's family were able to join us. It was packed but we got great seats in the choir section.

After Mass we went back home for a relaxed night of leftover food, visiting with Will and Heather, and then opening of Christmas Ornaments. It was a laid back evening that we ended with prayers and Christmas carols before putting the girls to bed. Jim and I then got to the wrapping of presents we hadn't had time for yet.

Christmas morning I woke up at 6:00 to the sound of hungry Johanna making grunty noises in the bassinet. I feed her and snuggled with her watching the Christmas tree and looking forward to the happiness of the morning to come. Rachael had set her alarm for 7:00 so the middle girls all climbed into our bed within minutes, we woke Emma up and all sang "Away in a Manger" in our bedroom before heading to the living room.

We had a fun time opening and sharing presents together. Some expected and some surprises. Emma finally got a Nerf Gun (the last of the sisters) and was thrilled with it's 40 disc capacity. Rachael loved her Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, but stayed distant from her new adventure camera. She wasn't ready to accept what might be the replacment of her "Frist Camera". Jim explained this was a rugged camera she could take with her when she adventures and someday her first camera could be fixed. She warmed up to it then. Megan was overjoyed to receive what she had waited months for, a vintage manual typewriter. The typewritier was a hit with all of the girls as they tried it out and typed messages, Hogwarts letters, Hunger Games quotes, and love notes. Megan has since been typing school worksheets. If only we had memio paper. Bridget received Merida's bow and suction cup arrows and after practicing technique was able to shoot them onto the mirror in her room. She stood 2 feet from the mirror so her success rate was very high. the girls also exchange a gift with one sister and this year Emma drew Rachael's name. She created a Skelegro potion bottle, inspiried by the Harry Potter series, complete with rib cage wrapped around a vintage bottle and topped with a skull stopper.

Jim and I enjoyed watching the girls enjoy each other and the gifts. Johanna slept through most of the fun but when she was awake she was given the gift of her families love and attention. We shared a wonderful breakfast and played all day. Christmas evening we went to my parents house for a wonderful turkey and ham dinner. It was a relaxed and joyous day.

Merry Christmas and may the joy of Christ's coming support you through 2013!