Merry Christmas!

The time we've been working toward and waiting for is here! Heidi and William, Madeline, Abigail and Sam flew in late Friday night and we had such a nice day on Saturday just hanging out, decorating the tree and relaxing. Abby had a bug and stayed on the couch most of the day, but she's feeling better now and no one else has gotten it. Erin and Jim and Garrett left Texas in their car on Friday evening and pulled up Sunday afternoon, loaded down like Santa's sleigh with both theirs and the DeHarts gifts. Tonight we'll get to see Gretchen and Chris and Anders. Chris's mom is also out from Cincinnati, and will be joining us as well! After Christmas Eve festivities, she is blessing them all with a night at the Uptown Radisson so they can all join us first thing in the morning to open stockings!

Look how big Garrett is! He went straight for the little chairs and bears on the landing, and like all the other little ones, tried to sit down on the little brown chair! Babies seems drawn to that chair and love to wedge their little bundle britches in there. Cute.

Here we are, cooking hot dogs over the fire! David has been splitting wood and has filled the porch with logs, ready for lots of Christmas fires. This fire was so hot we had to produce the longer coat hanger pokers, but it was fun. We also made s'mores, but I'd bought some pretty colored marshmallows at a market with lots of stuff from Mexico, and it turns out these were just a little too different! Oh well...

A game of three to thirteen got Abby up off of her couch (see the back of her head) and a good time was had by all. A phone call mid-stream to John Gruendyke for a rules clarification kept things moving.

Sam helped me get the lights on the tree and also worked hard on the train, seeing how fast it could go without derailing and how many whiffle golf balls it could push. I haven't had help decorating the tree in ages, so it was really fun to have Madeline and Sam hanging lots of ornaments and Abby giving suggestions from the couch! Tonight we're going over to Mom and Dad's for Christmas Eve and it's supposed to be pouring rain! Tomorrow we look forward to being home with everyone, opening presents and eating yummy things. 

We wish you a very Merry Christmas!