Condensed and Delayed Holidays

OK, I let it go way too long. Serious slacker on the blog, so here are the condensed holidays, mostly in pictures. One of the things I love about having a big family is all of the different celebrations to make sure we get to see all of our people. Thanks to blogger, they are all backwards in chronological order:

Grammy and Grampy's house with the cousins. Hensleigh is missing here. We attempt every season to get a decent picture of them all. . . attempt being the key word:

7 of the 8 grandkids

Watching the big sidewalk snowblower! The kids had a blast playing in the snow together. Fort building, shoveling, and snowball fights.

These are from my parents' house, when Jaime, Tom, and Fin got home. It doesn't feel like Christmas until they are with us:

Myles and Austin playing Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots

Fin Lovin' the new wheels!

These are from the Finley Christmas held every year at Aunt Darcy's. Yankee swap with recycled gifts, great food, and great company.
Mom, Aunt Karen and Uncle Will. Shockingly, my Mom is gambling ;)

Drew, Aunt Sal, Dan, Mason, and Uncle Dan

Christmas Morning, at our house! Maddie was the first one up, but not by much.

Maddie with her Red and Green stripes in her hair.

Myles finally got some Bakugans. I still don't understand them.

Max Rup with his fancy hat and Buzz Lightyear T-shirt that he would like to wear everyday.

Mason rocking out on Maddie's drum pads.

Madeline reading Christmas stories to two sleepy boys. She looks way too grown up in this one.

Mason LOVED the nativity set this year.
My parents bought us all tickets to the Polar Express. The kids absolutely loved it, and I'm pretty sure it will be a new tradition.

Maddie and Auri with their bells.

The Labontes. Max looks exhausted!

The annual trek to get a great tree:

With 4 kids it was hard to get them to agree. They would have walked around forever.

Daddy's shadow and big helper.

We had a fabulous holiday this year. There was no worrying about whether I had to work or not, no rushing back for a night shift, and we enjoyed the whole week together.