Catching Up!

Wow...has it really been that long since my last post! The only excuse I have is that life is just well...life and it is very busy around here. But it's a good busy. Let me go way back to when we were making pictures for our Christmas cards. Just a warning this is a long post with LOTS of pictures. Things just pile up when you wait so long between posts! This year our Christmas card was made extra special because of a sweet little baby named Lillianna, I love this picture of Anna Kayla and Greg loving on her in between shots.

The two little ones and my big guy didn't mind waiting around for everyone to get in place.

After we finally did we realized that the tripod was lower than it should have been and we were all looking down but we made it work. After all we were not about to try all of that again! This year we celebrated Christmas and New Year's with our annual traditions and we even started a few new ones. Since Paul's side of the family has grown so much (31 in all) we have moved our get together from December 24th to the 23rd. So we decided to have a little Christmas Eve Party at our house for our family after our Church's Christmas Eve Communion.

This is CB before we left for church. She is missing her cute red reindeer sweater but no matter she still looks so cute in those boots!

Here's the three of them ready and waiting to leave.

This big guy had no idea what Santa was going to have waiting for him the next day!

Here's our table all ready and waiting for everyone to arrive on Christmas Eve.

There was lots of yummy food to snack on.

I always enjoy having my big girl at home with us just having her here is a celebration for me!

A rare picture of me with my sweetie, it's one of my favorites.

Our special little Christmas girl snoozing away.

We were so glad that Greg's parents were able to join us to celebrate. We ate and laughed, opened a few presents then shuffled the little ones off to bed before the big day. It was the first year in a long time that Paul and I were up and waiting for the rest of the crew. We sat at the table drinking coffee for what seemed like forever before we FINALLY woke everyone up!

These two were still quite the little sleepy heads.

It didn't take long for Emanuiel to wake up when he saw his Bat Cave. The one that he kept saying he was "being good for goodness sakes" for!

Clara Beth approached her things with a bit more caution.

and this little can held a lot more than chocolate wafer rolls for Land... inside there was a set of keys for...................................

THIS! He was so surprised he said he was actually speechless! Imagine that! Old Santa had really pulled one over on him! It was a Christmas that I am sure we will never forget for so many reasons. We enjoyed the week after just lounging around the house playing a bazillion games of Sorry and enjoying each others company. Then it was time to celebrate the New Year in a new way...We always go to church on New Year's Eve and celebrate with food, games and fun so on New Year's Eve Eve we had our own little special party!

We feasted on grilled steaks, lobster tails, and baked potatoes.

The table was set, candles were lit...

and this girl waited all day to put on her special party dress! Yes we even dressed up for the occasion.

While our bubbly chilled(sparkling grape juice) that's about as strong as it gets around here!

We gussied ourselves up, CB was a lot more excited about this than...

this little guy was but he managed.

Anna Kayla made a special little cheese tray for us to snack on.

I had to include this picture because it makes me laugh. E did not want to dress up but he did, however, he did not take off his favorite socks(the ones with the huge hole in them) and he did not keep his shoes on!

These two joked around and had fun.

And we all had a special toast to the New Year! The little ones LOVED drinking from our fancy glasses. E cracks me up in this pose with his little sock feet!

These two also enjoyed themselves while Lillianna slept away in her little seat.

It was a wonderful new tradition that I am sure we will do again next year!

Until next time,

May this new year be filled with celebrations daily, both big and small!

And in all things celebrate the One who created us.

Psalm 145:7 NIV
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness

Here's to a great 2012!

Robin