12 Days of Christmas

Hey there, we are back for our final post on Christmas.  I may have bit off more than I could chew with this post.  It took me a lot longer than I anticipated,  but once I started I couldn't quit.  I tried to include as many folks as possible, but a lot of you were a bit camera shy, or I was too busy sipping mommy juice to get a pic that fit into "the box".  Just remember, we still love you and thank you for making our Christmas so special.

Ahem....

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:


On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

and one white puppy under a tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Five golden wings!  Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Seven cupcakes glistening, six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Eight crazies dancing, seven cupcakes glistening, six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas my Bumpa (and Kathy) gave to me:

Nine houses icing, eight crazies dancing, seven cupcakes glistening, six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Ten bells jingling, nine houses icing, eight crazies dancing, seven cupcakes glistening, six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Eleven snowflakes melting, ten bells jingling, nine houses icing, eight crazies dancing, seven cupcakes glistening, six candles burning, five golden wings! Four Christmas trees, three siblings, two cameras, and one white puppy under a tree.

PHEW!
We hope you had a merry one!  Until next year!

Christmas in Powell

WARNING!  Do not read this post while you are hungry!  We celebrated our last Christmas of 2011 at Bumpa and Kathy's house.  Just like years' past, their feast did not disappoint.

Twelve pounds of juicy beef tenderloin...


Amazing roasted vegetable medley...








They even  found a spot that sells allergen-free baked goodies.


They tasted just as good as they looked.




They brought in a second table this year, so no one was banished to the kitchen "kids" table.


Khera was psyched she got to eat with the adults.




Tommy ordered up a second cupcake before he finished his first.


The kids were thrilled during the gift exchange.


Of course everyone knows the way to Tommy's heart...


Elle glued herself to Aunt Brookie.


It really is no secret, this boy has me wrapped.




Tommy rocked his new hoodie.


And Elle, her new bling-bling cardigan.


Khera got some big kid books.


And Uncle Kit got a special gift, a photo album from his 2011 National Champion Soccer Season.


Bumpa and Kathy amazed us again with their thoughtfulness and generosity.  Thank you SO much!


OK, that's almost everything.  Stay tuned for ONE LAST POST about our Christmas.

An Upper Arlington Christmas

I'm going to start this post with a big ol'... After having 2 Christmases in 24 hours, working on very little sleep, packing 4 bags, checking 3 carseats, flying with 3 kids, undergoing a drastic change in climate, and wrapping 7 presents upon arrival, mama needed a beer--or three. I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked and had to again "borrow" shots from Amy for this post.
Thank you AMY NORTH!!!


Flying with children can be very dicey, thanks to Jena who gave the kids these sticker books from Sam's Club, our flight was one of the best we've ever had!


Another special thanks to Rudolph and Comet, without them our sleigh would have never made it to Ohio.


We made it there in record time and even managed to clog GJ's toilet once we got there, SORRY GJ!


Tommy was showered again with more Thomas loot and was in train heaven.


Apparently the Yeungling assisted me expressing my sincere enthusiasm for T's sweet train puzzles.




David gave Elle-rella a dress which she immediately had to try on and wear the rest of the day.


Here are the girls and their dresses, doesn't Elle's remind you of Elizabeth Shue's in Adventures in Babysitting?  I wanted that dress from the movie in the worst way back in the '80s.


We were so thrilled Nana made it up for some quality time.








Once again GJ pulled together a fantastic Christmas: she shopped until she dropped, wrapped up loads of gifts, got Nana to Columbus, picked us up from the airport, unclogged the toilet (or at least tried to), prepared a delicious Italian feast, all while coming down with shingles.  We are thankful she was able to get some rest before going back to work, God knows she needed it after we flew out of town!!!


Tommy found some more folks willing to read his books over and over.






Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year.  I love that both of our families are so large, more people = more love (and drama, excitement, bickering, etc).  Our hearts were glowing this season being able to see almost all of the loved ones we hold dear.  Our siblings were the greatest gift our parents could have ever given us, thank you Mom, Dad, GJ and Bumpa.