Merry Christmas!

It's the day after Christmas and we are all slowly recovering - especially Santa's helper (me).  We had a wonderful celebration here at home and with the Larsen side of the family.  Hard to imagine we are going to do it all again in a few days with the Graham side of the family!

We spent Christmas Eve having lunch and exchanging gifts with our good friends, the Schufreiders.  Their twins, Luke and Chloe, are our godchildren and Kate & Jack love hanging out with them.  After returning home for a short nap for Jack, we took the kids to see "Arthur Christmas" at the movie theater.  That combined with the bag of popcorn and licorice was a fun treat and good way to pass the time until Santa came!  We learned that having gifts under the tree before Christmas is absolute torture for a 5 year old.  Kate had a very hard time waiting for the big day!  Jack still didn't quite understand and so didn't really pay much mind to the presents until we told him it was time to open them!  

On Christmas morning we woke up to discover Santa had come!  Our stockings were all filled, there were two large gifts next to the tree, and all of the milk and cookies were gone!

Opening stockings

 Opening Santa's gifts

Jack got a tool bench

And Kate got a Barbie townhouse

Opening gifts from Mommy & Daddy

Daddy assembling Jack's new army plane

Jack loving his new hot wheels rug

Kate playing with her new LeapPad

After opening all of the gifts, Mommy made snowman pancakes which were served on the cool new plates Kate & Jack received from Great-Aunt Marcia & Uncle Richard.

After Jack's nap, we headed over to the Larsen house to celebrate Christmas with Grandma Cecile, Poppa Dave, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Kevin and Aunt Kari.  We hung out, opened stockings & gifts and then had a wonderful turkey dinner.  

Poppa Dave waiting patiently to open his gifts

Jack, Daddy & Grandma

Daddy opening presents (Mommy took all the pictures, but she was there!)

Jack opening presents

Kate making the mashed potatoes with Grandma & Jack

Today we are enjoying all of our wonderful new things and are thankful for the time we spent with family.  We are flying out on Thursday to spend a week in Colorado with Grandma Linda, Poppa Mark, Uncle Josh and the Fulton Family!  We can't wait!

A Very '20s Christmas

Last night we had our Christmas party with Dave's best friends and their wives.  This has become an annual tradition which we call the Kentridge Christmas.   All of the guys grew up together and graduated from Kentridge High School.  Every year we rotate the hosting responsibilities and we typically incorporate a theme of some sort.  


My co-worker and good friend, Keith, heads up a non-profit organization with his partner, Efren, to provide school supplies to children in the Philippines.  Earlier in the year, they held a silent auction event to raise money for their organization.  One of the items up for bid was a catered multi-course Italian dinner prepared by Keith & Efren.  We jumped at the opportunity and decided it would be perfect for the Kentridge Christmas since it was our turn to host this year!


For the theme, we settled on 1920s gangsters and flappers.  We figured it paired well with the Italian meal.  



For decorations I created a "chalk" outline of a dead body in our front entryway using masking tape and tracing around Dave playing dead.  I also put a bullet hole sticker in the area of the heart.

I ordered these Wanted posters online.  They have slits in them to insert in any 8X10 photo.  I scanned in the boys' high school yearbook photos and applied a sepia finish to make them look old-fasioned and printed them out.  I put more bullet hole stickers along the wall and placed some gold bricks on the floor.  

We created one grand table for 12 using two folding tables.  I used my grandmother's china for the special occasion and decorated the table with red roses, candles and some scattered Hershey's mini gold nuggets.

 Here are Keith & Efren hard at work in our kitchen (Sully is supervising).  They provided an amazing meal.  Everything was delicious - appetizers, tuscan white bean soup, salad, lasagna, chicken.  But the highlight was the homemade Tiramisu and Canolis for dessert.  Simply amazing!  

Everyone came dressed up in 20's costumes.  So we took lots of pictures.  I think they look better in sepia to get the full effect!

The whole gang

Mike & Jacie (she just gave birth to twins 2 weeks ago!)

Darren & Ceci

Jen & Troy

Scott & Nancy

Suzanne, Jeremy & baby girl Alyssa

Dave and me

Let's eat!

The boys

The girls

Everyone looked great!

After dinner we had our traditional gift exchange.  We draw names try to get something that person will actually like, but there are occasional gag gifts that pop up.  This year featured a Fremont Troll Chia Pet.  Who knew they sold those? 

I have to feature all of the babies that attended as well.  2011 has introduced 3 new members to our little gang.  

 Mike holding 2 week-old twins, Sam & Carly

Carly

And Sam

 And 3 month old Alyssa

Once again we had a fabulous time.  We are so truly blessed to have such great friends.  They have been a huge part of Dave's life and it is so great that they are all still so close after all these years.  Much of the talk at the party centered around how they are going to celebrate their 40th birthdays together!  I am glad he has such great friends and am very lucky they all married such wonderful women so that I have fun people to hang out with!

Happy Holidays!

     

Santa Train

On Sunday we took Jack on his first train ride.  We rode the Santa Train with the Grays, Swanders, Sykes and other friends.  We caught the train in North Bend and rode it up to Snoqualmie where we got to have cookies and hot chocolate and then visit Santa before getting back on the train to head back to North Bend.  


The kids seemed to enjoy it.  They were excited to see Santa and Jack really liked the train.  It wasn't quite as fun for the parents.  Lots of waiting in line and the weather was horrible.  But since my parents were with us, we took the opportunity to try to get some family pictures.  And although it is nearly impossible to get Jack to smile for the camera, we did manage to get some halfway decent pictures (notice our cute coordinating outfits).   

Jack sporting his new train sweatshirt

People boarding the train

Grandma & Poppa on the train

Us on the train 

Daddy & Jack

Waiting in line to see Santa

Daddy & Jack watching the train pull in

Santa!

Jack telling Santa he wants "a present"

Kate telling Santa she wants a Barbie Townhouse

Hugs for Santa!

Santa handing out candy canes on the train