It’s hard to believe that another Christmas has already come and gone! We started out on the 23rd of December at Justin’s parents house. All of Justin’s siblings were able to make it out and we had a lot of fun with everyone.
Christmas Eve we had a massive fondue for supper…very yummy. Normally we read and have the kids act out the Nativity and things like that, but this year everyone forgot! Russell and his cousin were asking to go to bed at like 7:00 so they opened their Christmas Eve pjs and were in bed and Russell was asleep soon after…no talking or goofing around, he just went right to sleep. Bryn was a little more difficult, and Asher was up until probably 10-ish, but gradually they all got to sleep. Us adults stayed up playing cards quite late – “Shoot the Moon” in this case. Justin’s family is different than my family in a lot of ways…one of those being that his family doesn’t seem to get as excited about things (including holidays – which is ironic considering their last name) as my family gets. Perhaps we just have different ways of expressing our excitement? (I haven’t quite figured it out yet.) In any case, Justin’s family is really nice and we enjoy hanging out with them. What I was going to say though was that sometimes it’s hard for me to hold in my excitement in order to fit in with the rest of them…but I think I did ok. 
My kids are usually up by 6-ish but of course Christmas morning they sleep till 7:30! Why can’t they do that other days? Russell had asked for a telescope and a few books for Christmas and all Bryn wanted a pink doll (they both got what they wanted). Santa had no idea what to get Asher, but he did ok in the end…everyone was happy! Even I got a nice hoody and a touque with gortex around the ears…NOW I’m prepared for Canadian Winters!! (Well, I guess I still need boots, gloves and a coat…but heck it’s sure nice to have warm ears!) Oh and we got socks…Justin and I traditionally get nice wool socks in our stockings! Justin got a shirt and scarf as well. Justin’s parents made us some more of those bean bag cookers, and are also replacing our Temple clothes that were stolen out of our car, so we’re excited about that.
Bryn opening her beads...this present is a favorite!
Russell hugging his telescope
Asher got some cool trucks from grandma and grandpa.
Christmas Day was beautiful weather wise, so we spent at least a couple hours out there playing. They had a huge snow drift (many actually) and my father-in-law and Justin and the other brothers made a pretty sweet slide down it…complete with stairs. They also helped the kids dig a tunnel through another drift. And what visit out to the farm would be complete without quad rides?? Not this one! Driving around in the snow made my muscles ache the next day…I had to hang on tight! Almost got thrown off it a few times!
Me...heading down the slide!
Justin on the quad.
More quadding...that's me and Justin (check out my sweet new toque).
Russell in the tunnel.
Justin’s sister, who is prego, had come with their little girl who happened to be sick. When we went to bed Christmas night, I was awake all night listening to his sister make trips to the bathroom…apparently she got sick too. At about 4 in the morning, Asher threw up, and continued to do so throughout the night, and by morning I was feeling quite ill. A night from H E double hockey sticks for sure! We got our things together quickly and headed home. The original plan was to go to Stirling but we ended up staying home for a few days instead, to make sure we wouldn’t pass anything to anyone else at my parents house.
To be continued…
