OK, I'm a week late, but it's the thought that counts, LOL. Christmas was wonderful. Sorry Chez, I didn't take pics of the food. I was in the kitchen a lot less. Our dining room table was almost bowing it had so many sweets on it. I brought a platter of home made candies, a platter of home made cookies (not made by me) and also a box of candy that had been given to Nancy. Kim made a rice krispie like dessert called a scotcharoo and my sister in law Myrna brought more home made candy! We had to put the platters in the one of the bedrooms because the kitchen was full when it was time to put dinner on the table.
I can't believe we didn't get a family picture! My brother and his family didn't make it to Thanksgiving and it's so rare for all of us to be together I'm totally bummed we didn't get one but it was a madhouse there. The kids were having fun with all of that sugar. Did I mention Kim and I stuffed the stockings with chocolates also? Here are a couple of pics that Kim took. 
We didn't end up taking many pics which is a bummer because its always funny to see all of the presents under the tree. We had 17 stockings up this year, which is why they wrapped around into the dining room, LOL.
The opening of the presents was a mad house! My brother's kids are 3 and 4 and they were awful, just ripping thru presents and throwing them down to open new ones. Since I was living here and have so much fun shopping for kids I bought them 2 and 3 presents but they really took the fun out of it for me and I won't put so much thought and effort next year. At least Jordan has learned to be better. He wouldn't open his next present until he thanked whoever he received the present the present he had just opened from. I know the other two are little but Kathy, who has a close relationship with them said she was appalled by it so I don't think I'm being too harsh.
Dinner was wonderful even though the prime rib was a little over cooked. Not enough medium rare for everyone but the taste was wonderful. My potatoes were a hit. Our ambrosia salad was delightful but not many people ate it. It's more dessert like so people waited to eat it and by then were too full. I've decided I'm not making any more desserts because by the time people have room for it, they're on to the next house. My dad had some pie a couple of hours after dinner but he was the only one.
Since we celebrated Xmas eve for Xmas day I went to Nancy's for Xmas brunch. I don't like to drive in the snow and when I woke up it was coming down like crazy. Nancy stayed the night at her parent's so she couldn't drive. Originally I was going to go to their house then leave early to let my dad use my car. Instead I had him drive me out there and I could come home with Nancy. My dad is from Michigan, he knows how to drive in the snow. Or so I thought LOL. Nancy's parents live down a steep incline. I told my dad that Nancy's dad would come and get me in his truck at the top of the hill but my dad said he could make it. Which he could. Too bad he couldn't make it back up the hill! Nancy's dad, Larry (might as well give him a name, LOL) and her brother Edgar ran out to help him which was too cute. I didn't have my camera out quick enough to catch them pushing the hyundai. Unfortunately there was too much slush so the tires couldn't get traction so they gave my dad alternate directions and followed him in the truck to make sure he got out. How cool is that?
Nancy's cousins came over for brunch and their 3 little munchkins who are just adorable and they love me. Well the boys love me, the little girl is more reserved, sometimes she hugs me, most times she doesn't. The boys run right to me which I love. They call me Nancy's friend, LOL. Brunch was fabulous! We had a sausage souffle, a frittata, cinnamon rolls, fruit salad and bacon! So yummy! To top it off I had Edgar make me a bloody mary since I wasn't there the night before to get drunk with the clan. It was the best bloody mary I'd ever had so I had him make me another one. Big mistake, LOL. I had a headache ALL day. I thought it was dehydration but even after drinking a ton of water I still didn't feel better. So I did blame it on the booze but maybe it wasn't. I'll have to have another one to be sure, LOL.
Nancy had the brilliant idea to pull out the toboggan. It was a total blast. Since I went over in my pj's I put on some of Nancy's mom's (Pat) clothes. Here is my fave pic from the tobogganing, can you believe no one took my pic?
Then that would be my fave pic, LOL. The little girl never left her spot so the front seat meant you were behind her, LOL. They decided to trek up a big hill but after a few steps I decided to go in, LOL. Nancy says they only did the hill once since they had to lug the kids.
I had some cool gifts this year, including a pic frame full of pics of me (my fam knows me well, LOL) but my favorite was a gift from Nancy's parents. They had made a cook book for each of us full of their recipes and their family recipes. It is awesome! I show it to everyone who comes by, LOL. I received my own cook book because Pat has hopes Nancy and I won't always live together. We have that same hope, LOL. I loved being included in the family but hey, as if there was any doubt, LOL. I get in the family pictures, just like Nancy does at my home. We have known each other and each other's families for over 20 years.
All of the excitement of Xmas got to me, ok it was the 2 bloody marys (I don't drink much anymore) and I needed a nap. I can't usually sleep with noise around me but had no problem this time. I only woke up because I could hear the kids getting ready to leave and they wanted to give me a hug. I never turn down a hug! 
Once Nancy and I got home we had our own Xmas. I know, it's like I had 3 Christmases! We decided to do stocking stuffers and had fun opening our little gifts to each other. Of course with being snowed in for a week I told Nancy a couple of the things she will be getting, LOL.
All in all a fabulous Xmas. I hope that you all had as wonderful a time as I did. I had planned on catching up to New Years but this is quite a long post as it is. So what was your favorite present this year? Any gag gifts? The sweat bands I bought for the boys wrists were a hit as were the Star Trek pez dispensers, LOL. Dang, what did I do with my pez?
After that we headed next door to take Linda's picture for the MacHalo tour. It's my favorite picture so far. I was going to show it to you but decided to wait until we launch the new page that we have for the tour. FYI, next door is Spartacus, an adult store LOL.
