Christmastime is here

Christmas this year was spent with the Gillman family in Massachussettes. My sister Christy and her family of 5 girls (!) lives there and it was easiest for all of us to go there. My brother Mark's family and my parents were there as well. We celebrated 2 of the grandchildren's birthdays, ate lots of cake and other goodies, had a pinata, played bumper pool, ate at a Japanese buffet, played Sequence til the wee hours of the night, rocked Lego Rock Band, stopped well-intentioned 4-year-olds from mauling babies, reenacted the Christmas story, paintballed (the boys), saw mansions in Rhode Island, stayed in cozy cabins in New Hampshire, played in the snow, got sick, went snowboarding in -15 degree weather, watched the same movies over and over.... and best of all, just spent time with family. It was a WONDERFUL trip and SO FUN to see everyone! So in no particular order.. some of our memories Sarah and Janelle...they traded/stole toys from each other most of the time. Janelle learned to crawl while we were there and Sarah watched in envy. They were such good friends, until Sarah started pulling Janelle's hair!

I guess this is the official Santa picture for the year...

We got to go to the beautiful Boston temple!

My sister-in-law Jana with Sarah. Jana is having a GIRL in June! We're so exited for another girl cousin so soon!

Our scraggly, but 'with character' Christmas tree.

Sarah's favorite toy while we were there

Kurtis' new passion: PAINTBALLING. 'Can I get a gun?' was his first comment to me after going. 'It was so awsome' he still says. Thanks Jared for exposing my husband to these new-fangled things. :)

The boys after paintballing, from L - R: Jared's friend, Kurtis, my brother Mark, Jared (brother-in-law) and my Dad

Paintballing posse

The brave or crazy ones who dared go snowboarding while in New Hampshire. Notice the RED cheeks! They spent a lot of time in the lodge... and they claimed it was fun and my little niece Brooklynn who's never been says she wants to go again after the whole ordeal!

The Christmas story.. it was pretty cute to watch. Grant was a very protective yet wandering Joseph while Kate was so happy to be the 'mother' Mary to baby Jesus.

My sister took my mom and I up to Rhode Island to see the GIGANTIC mansions owned by the Vanderbuilt families. These houses were insanely big and gawdy but so beautiful!

PLease don't throw a snowball at me!

Anxiously anticipating Christmas morning... they were sooooooooo eager to go downstairs!