Merry Christmas 2011!

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas this year.

It started off on Christmas Eve at Grandma and Robert Bridger's home.  The kids were spoiled as always with lots of gifts and they were really excited to finally get to open some after looking at presents under our tree for weeks.  I was extremely bummed to discover that I had left my camera battery in Indiana and therefor was unable to take any pictures this Christmas.  I did get some video footage, but unfortunately other than a few mobile photos Dennis took, we have no pictures.

  

Logan and I with our white elephant gifts...

After putting the kids to bed I ran out to Midnight mass and met my parents there.  It is so hard to stay up that late especially with traveling and all the running around we have to do.  Unfortunately, that is the only mass we can fit in to our schedule at this time.

Christmas morning the boys actually slept until almost 7, but were super excited when they came in to our room to open presents.  Colin was especially excited to open his Nintendo 3DS.  He didn't even ask for it, which made it even more special.  He opened it and said "Wow and 3DS, that's like 100 dollars!"    Evan got a cool ride on scooter which he was excited about, but mostly he loved his small Phineas and Ferb action figures.  Logan wasn't that in to opening presents.  He was just happy to walk around.

Julie and Holly's families then arrived (they brought their santa gifts to my Mom's to open together) and then we had a nice breakfast together.

The day continued at Meghan's house where we exchanged gifts with Miranda and Grandpa McLaughlin.  Evan was very excited to get a leap pad or his own "ipad" as he calls it.  Colin enjoyed putting a lego castle together while we were there.

Then we went to my extended family party at a hall.  There was probably 60 people or so there and we had a lot of fun playing games, eating LOTS of food and having a visit from Santa.  Logan didn't want anything to do with him and wouldn't sit on his lap, but Colin and Evan sat for awhile no problem.  The boys had a blast as always playing with their cousins and my cousins kids.

This year, Christmas was spread out even more because we spent the evening of the 26th also opening gifts.  We decided that since there was no time when my siblings and parents would all be together on the 25th (David was in South Carolina with Fanchon's family), we would celebrate on the 26th.  So, we went to Julie's for dinner and did our big gift exchange then.  It was nice to have my whole family together and it is crazy that there are now 24 of us!!!  And next year that number will be up to 26, since Julie announced on Christmas day that she is expecting in early August (and David and Fanchon are due end of June)!!!!!

It was a wonderful Christmas with lots of family and great memories!