Christmas with the Kids

     This weekend we celebrated Christmas with the kids as we will be heading out to Wyoming for the holidays.  Michael and Amber were home for the weekend, and it turned out to be a great Christmas celebration!!

The five of us at dinner Saturday night

Amber, Dani, and I gathered for a picture of just the girls.

When it was time to open presents, guess who appeared?

Here is Dani with one of her favorite gifts...a new jacket. :0)

     Michael was thrilled with his gifts from Dani...a Sushi cookbook and some cooking items to make Sushi at home.  He and Amber love to go out for Sushi, and he has been wanting to learn how to make it.  I love the surprised expression on his face! :0)

Amber is checking out her new Nook while Michael is checking out his new ceramic Sushi knife.

Nice wrapping job, Amber!! :0)

JJ decided she needed to have her picture taken too...

     while her brother decided he needed to help unwrap presents.  He does this every year, and it is hysterical!! He pulls the big ribbons off, and gently opens up the presents.  He doesn't chew on the paper...just unwraps each present.

     After unwrapping presents, Michael and Dani got out the old photo albums from when they were little.  They really enjoyed going through them together, and it was great to see them having so much fun.

     Of course, there were many laughs at Darrell's expense (clothes, hair, glasses, etc...).  Amber had plenty of laughs at Michael's expense too!!  We all had fun looking through the albums and reminiscing about Michael and Dani being babies and toddlers.  What a nice weekend together as a family!!!

Love and Joy 2011

Digital collage personalized with Smilebox

The First of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Celebrations...

    

     It's always fun getting together with friends to celebrate any occasion, but it seems even a bit more fun when it involves a theme or dressing up.  Those of us who get together on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette finale night decided to get together for a Christmas celebration.  The afternoon began with yummy appetizers, sweets, etc...

Then we started comparing ugly sweaters...

Nikki's is actually her grandmother's partridge in a pear tree sweater!!

 Jill, Nikki, Heather, and Me (front row)
Alison, Sara, and Simona (back row)

      Here I am with Alison.  My Christmas light button covers are vintage!!!  A friend of mine that I taught with in Billings made them for me in 1991.  Alison's daughter, Brandy, surprised her mom when she stuck a big sign on the back of her ugly vest with masking tape.

     Here we are gathered around one of the Christmas trees and the gifts we brought to exchange.

     Once everyone settled in, we headed out to the lake. Wow, was that kind of a freaky experience!! It sure didn't seem safe to a few of us, but Simona insisted none of us would fall through.  We could see right through the ice (evidence shown below)!!

     The breeze was a bit chilly, so once we had our fun on the lake, we headed back inside for some hot chocolate.  Even Wilma joined us on the lake.

 But once she was back inside, she played a game of peek-a-boo with us.  She was a stitch!!

 Holly "forgot" to wear her sweater, but we still let her be in the picture with us!! :)

 Holly and Alison

 Time for the gift exchange/stealing to begin...

     Alison won third place in our ugly sweater contest, so here she is enjoying her prize.  I think I convinced her to wear the "tree headband" to school next week for our annual ugly Christmas sweater day. :0)

I guess this is Wilma's way of saying that the party is over, and it is time for everyone to go home!!

An Early Ostendorf Christmas

     Today was a busy day.  After my lab work this morning, Darrell and I went to meet Darci and Emma to watch Mike coach and Logan play basketball.  It was a big tourney, and we ended up seeing some people from Darrell's work as well as our neighbors and their son, Payton, play after Logan's championship game.  It's always fun to spend time with Darci and Emma, and it was fun to watch Logan play; we can't believe how tall he is getting already for a 5th grader!!

 Emma showing off her goofy blue and gold hair display, and then she snuggled with me for awhile.  I sure miss snuggle time since our kids are adults already!!!

 Coach Mike in action

Get the rebound, Logan!!

Here I am with Kim and Darci.

     After the basketball tournament, we headed over to Mom O.'s for the Ostendorf Christmas.  We decided on Thanksgiving Day that we should move up our usual Christmas family gathering due to Mom O.'s health, and we decided to have it at her house.  All six of her kids and their spouses were able to be there, so I know that really meant a lot to her.  Not all of the grandchildren were able to be present, but it turned out to be a very nice day and evening.

Grandma with three of her grandkids: Chelsea, Lindsey, and Justin.

Mom surrounded by her daughters, daughter-in-laws, and three of her grandkids.

Great-Grandma and Brayden

A very special day captured on camera...Mom with all six of her kids!!!

Justin and Auntie Lori

Michael, Amber, Dani, and Me

Christmas Decorating with Special Assistance

Winter Wonderland??!!  Here are the doggies enjoying their first snowfall of the year.

Meanwhile, Benji was being a nuisance as I took down our fall decorations over Thanksgiving weekend in order to put up the Christmas decorations.

 

 

Everywhere Dani and I decorated, there he was.  Apparently, a nap can be taken anywhere in Benji's world!!

 

 

Out came a Santa decoration....that woke him up!

 

 

Really, Benji?!  Is there anywhere you won't climb or jump for a happy nappy?

Dani peeking around the right side of the tree :0)

Guess who?

Working on the banister lights and decor

Even when we decorated the table and placed the advent "wreath" on it, there he was (like one of the wise man).

As each ornament was taken out, Benji had to play with it.  Dani obliged. :0)

Now the dogs think it's their turn to help.

JJ then became the "snooper visor" as she ran up to the kitchen and peeked through the banisters to make sure all was going well.

 Our finished product

Obviously, our annual Christmas decorating took everything out of these two!!!!!

Just like Andy Williams sings, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!!"