Christmas Day 2012

We celebrated Christmas at my sister's house this year.  My Dad has sold his house since he has moved in with Emma.   I'm so glad my sister offered to be hostess.

The day was jam-packed with people, food and fun.   It was nice to gather once again as a whole family and enjoy each other's company.

Jamie and Emily

Emily's sparkly red party dress complete with tiara

The "Old Folks"  Dad, Emma and Aunt Izzy

Nick and John

Laura

Sammi, Jamie and Jess

The "Outlaws" -  Sammi's boyfriend Chris and Jess' husband Kyle.

Hubby chatting with Angie

John got to play Santa this year.  He did a great job!

Dad decided it would be a good idea to sit on Santa's lap.

Santa did not agree!!

Marc thought sitting next to Santa was a better idea, and so did Santa.

Anyone remember Fizzies??

It was a perfect day.  Mayhem, talking, eating, laughing, kids running around, Santa bringing lots of gifts and some special joke gifts.    It's a day filled with memories for everyone.

Christmas Eve 2012

The next party in our line-up was having Hubby's kids over on Christmas Eve!   We've been having them over every year, but because of work schedules, we didn't think they'd be able to come this year.  But, a Christmas miracle!  It worked out that they were free.

Elsie loves to eat!  She drank up most of Grampy's smoothie made from yogurt, bananas and strawberries.

Noah regales us with a story.

Elsie is in awe of the Christmas tree.

She can't wait to get her hands on Uncle Kenny!

This could be the first time Kenny held Elsie.

"Please take her away before she wiggles out of my arms and I drop her!"

Noah plays with the new Hess helicopter and truck from Grampy.

Always fun to play Grampy's drum pads.

Gotta love that cute face!

And I do!

Noah plays Melodica while Grampy accompanies on piano.

Christmas with my kids 2012

One of the very best things about buying our house is our ability to host family gatherings.  In fact, it was a driving force in our decision to go ahead and do it.   So, I feel so blessed now when I can have my family over and enjoy everyone being in the same place at the same time.

Sunday morning we had all my kids over for our Christmas Party.

With our new kitchen table, we sat everyone comfortably around the table.  This year, red Solo dinnerware. I've found that now that I have the ability to host dinners, I need some seasonal dinnerware.  I'm on the hunt right now for some Christmas dishes for next year.

Kara and Emily put presents under the tree.

Emily was proud that she wore Memere's favorite pajamas with penguins on them.

Always fun to let the heating duct flip your hair around.

Once Emmy got the camera, she took some photos of my Christmas decorations.

Also fun to play the piano with your belly.

Aunt Jamie got her some Perler beads...the new obsession.

Pepere received a Melodica!

Memere made Emmy a new skirt....rainbow!

Pepere got Emmy a pink flowered guitar (picked out by Mom!) with a pink strap.

Gathering ammunition for the inevitable wrapping paper fight.

Everyone gets to do Perler Beads!

  Somehow, I got mostly pictures of Emily!  But luckily, we had Doug and Kara, Nick and Kelly, and Jamie and Tony there as well.   I'm so grateful to have all my children around me at the holidays!

Vennard Family Christmas 2012

We celebrated with Hubby's family for Christmas on Saturday.   Hubby "The Patriarch" made sure he had the comfiest chair and regaled us with annoying music until they took the guitar away from him.

Hubby's son Kenny and his partner Matthew

Granddaughter Elsie trying to figure out how this little stuffed dog is barking and walking.

Our little Elf grandson Noah showing off his Howling Dog guitar.

Uncle Paul playing with Noah's new guitar.  We're pretty sure Paul bought it for him so he could play with it himself.

Hubby's nephew Ryan showing off the slippers he got from Hubby.   For weeks, Hubby threatened Ryan with fuzzy slippers if Ryan did not give him an idea for a Christmas gift.  And that's exactly what he got.

Finally, Hubby is allowed to play some Christmas Carols for us to sing along with.

Hubby's brother Doug and grandson Gabriel helped with the sing-along.

Hubby's daughter Wendy is amazed at the array of cheeses her Daddy gave her for a gift.

Baby Elsie takes some quiet time for reflection.

Aunt Jeannie did some magic and put Elsie to sleep.

The whole fam-damily.   

Back Row:  Paul, Kenny, Matthew, Allen, Zeke

Middle Row:  Me, Debbie, Jeannie, Peggy

Front Row: Doug, Tag, Wendy, Ryan

Kids:  Noah, Elsie, Gabriel