Christmas 2012

What a wonderful holiday season to add to the list of loving, memorable, and never-dull experiences that our families share during this time.  We began our holidays with the Hiller Christmas, and it was special because it was the first gathering in my parents' new house!  The "Last Supper" table was officially sworn in with a feast of crab legs and seafood bisque.  The kids had, as they put it, "the best days of their lives" when they got to spend an extended weekend with Maddie. 

 

 

 Presents

 

 

Brock's Favorite:

Doggie Doo!

Within minutes of playing Doggy Doo, the dog was constipated and had to be cleaned out with a stick.

 

 

 
Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Mom laughing at my petite gift to her

"The jewelry box is kind of hard to open.  Not sure if you can open it."

Inside the jewelry box was a pair of earrings that my mom had when she was a little girl.  She has been searching for these earrings for a very long time, and with a little help from my Aunt Cindy, we were able to find them and make this one of my mom's most memorable Christmases.

Along with the earrings were a few pendants and a necklace that held a strong significance with her, as well.

 "Gril - lay - pro...must be Italian."

Brock shooting off his fizzy bottle exploder from Aunt Heidi.

Brock playing catch with Uncle Tom

Uncle Adam dancing with Sophie

Of course, a Christmas would not be complete without:

Shirley Temples

A Sexy Christmas

Some Fits

Cherry Turnovers Christmas Morning

And Pinkeye

Oh yes, pinkeye.  It started with Sophie and spread throughout the house.  I was the only one to remain unaffected by the pink inflamed eyes of goo, but unfortunately, the pinkeye took its toll on Chad and Ella right during Christmas, so they had to forgo Christmas at Great Grandma and Grandpa's for fear of spreading it to others.

This is how Chad caught the pinkeye from Ella:

Elfie getting a head start on the jello:

Christmas Eve

  

Ella's kitty enveloped in a wreath of M&Ms (pic by Ella)

Christmas Morning

In their hooded blankets from Santa

Then the camera dies =(

At Great Grandma and Grandpa's

Carter got a DS for Christmas, so he spent the majority of the time taking pictures of everyone.

Making a Snowman

Apparently, Brock's part was too hard to push.

Forgot the Hat

Randoms

Non-insulated exterior bedroom walls = 20 blankets at bedtime

Ella's Wish -- "my cousin in Crete."

Sophie let Harper have her beloved blankie at bedtime because she was cold.  Usually Sophie can't sleep without her blankie, so this was quite a selfless act.

Kids wanted to do P90X on their vacation.  ???

I laughed so hard when Ella brought her schoolwork home and I saw this page.  Her and her swirly S's.  Whenever I write the kids' names on things, I try and make them fancy and fun.  It looks like she is trying to do the same with her handwriting homework.