Catching Up - Part 2

Okay, finally the Christmas pictures are here! Well, at least some of them...my tree is still up while I'm waiting for a chance to get our "Christmas" family picture! Kevin might be coming home tonight (actually not good a thing - so far, it looks like a bad season for crab fishing), so maybe we'll get that chance soon!

Christmas Eve



Opening a few presents with Grandma.

Christmas Day - Marks Family

We usually spend Christmas day out at the coast at Kevin's parents house. My nephew Stephen came with us, but other than that there were no "extras" =) and we had a nice, quiet family Christmas together.

Kevin's Dad and Ben

Abby got this pink sleeping bag with water bottle and backpack from her grandparents. It was by far her favorite present and she spent much of the day playing in her sleeping bag and drinking LOTS of water...and going to the potty and filling her pull-ups a lot too!

Cousins Bekah and Stephen playing with Abby's new puzzles.

Ben with his new boat bath toy from Grandpa and Grandma.

Our Family Christmas

We finally got a chance to open presents with the kids the morning after Christmas. Abby got a snowman book (which she now picks to read before every naptime and bedtime), some socks and a shirt. Ben got a ball popper toy and some socks. Daddy got a game and socks from Mommy and Breath-Rite strips from Abby (a story for another time). And Mommy got....nothing. Actually, several days later Kevin built me some shelves in the garage that I've been wanting for a long time. =)

Abby checking out Ben's new toy and Ben checking out an ornament he's not supposed to have! ;o)

Gardner Family Christmas

Later that evening my family came over to our house for dinner and gifts. Unfortunately, my dad couldn't be with us because he was (and still is) working on a ship going to China and back.

Me with niece Hannah.

Hannah and Abby having a tea party with Abby's new tea set from her Aunt Becky.

Villwock Christmas

Our final family Christmas gathering took place in Oregon about a week later with my mom's side of the family. Every year we have traveled down to Oregon for Christmas with my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. When I was very little it was always at my grandparents' house. Then it moved to my uncle and aunt's big farm house. And then as the grandkids grew up, married and had their own kids, we were forced to meet at my uncle's church because of the sheer size of our group. There were about 45 of us this year, even with a couple families not being able to attend.

My Grandma with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (about five missing).


Siblings

One thing that is nice about having our get together at the church is that the kids have lots of room to run and play and there are plenty of nursery toys for them all to play with.

Captain Ben playing on the toy boat.

We always do a gift exchange (white elephant style).

Everyone circled up as the gift exchange begins.

Abby waiting patiently for her number to be called during the gift exchange.

Finally, her turn!

She had a blast playing with one of the gift bags!

Even Ben got to play! He got a cute lion hooded bath towel.

The group was so big this year, it was actually hard to even pay attention to who was opening a gift and which number was next. I'm beginning to think that we might have come up with a different idea for next year. My cousin Jayne and I are mostly in charge of the event (not that there's a whole lot to do), so I will have to talk to her about this. We also have a potluck, but I'd like to have some type of formal activity that brings the whole group together. Perhaps a slide show presentation recapping each family's year? Or a couple of big group games? I'd love to hear some suggestions if any of you have some!