The Great Christmas Get-Together 2012

The biggest present of this Christmas was having all five kids in the same place at the same time. I just hate having the kids spread across the state lines or in another country. Emily flew home from Guanajuato on December 12th to stay for almost 4 weeks! She was followed by Hannah on December 22nd from Albany who can stay for 2 weeks! I bought their tickets for them, but actually it was a present for me and Bob.

We hosted a family party at home for Emily's arrival. We served Bob's, Molly's and Twylla's famous homemade soups, Diane's famous salad, and bread topped off by Sarah's famous chocolate fondue. ( I am giving credit where credit is due.) Not to be outdone,the next week when Hannah arrived we wore our gaudiest Christmas outfits and descended on Mama's Pizza like a pack of lunatics. And we have the blurry cell phone pics to prove it!

My cousin John took a picture of all of us, but it seems to be stuck in my phone. You think we would be embarrassed, .....but we were NOT! We have no shame.

**********************************************************************************************************

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with my entire 4 generation family at my Dad's house. As usual, Twylla laid out quite the spread including ham, cheese potatoes and all the fixings. We opened presents for hours, and needed desserts to refuel when we were finished! Everyone left fat and happy, full of Joy, and weighed down by presents!

Thanks Dad and Twylla!

********************************************************************************************************

Christmas morning the kids came home to have brunch and open presents.The amount of calories consumed has to be against the law. We had everyone's favorites including fresh pineapple, spinach rolls, baked french toast, two baked egg dishes,and caramel rolls. And that certainly didn't keep anyone from breaking into Bob's Xmas present when they were finished - a 5# Hershey Bar!

And look what Santa left under the tree for me. Grandma's got a brand new ride! Thanks Bob Santa!

We continue the celebrations on Saturday when we go to my dad's for the second time to recreate Christmas Eve for Sophie and Luke who couldn't be with us this year. And then follow that up with our annual Kippels' family pronto pup fest around New Year's. I say Bring...It....On!