Christmas

Christmas time - I don't feel bad admitting that I am glad that it is over!!! The stress of it all was at times enough to throw me over the edge!!!! In all, we celebrated 4 Christmases - this year with my side of the family. Each of my parent's families and with just my sisters and parents, and then just the 5 of us once we got home from Oregon. We were all a bit present-ed out. When the kids tear through a present, barely glance at it and ask to open the next one, we realize we have gone overboard. But it was fun. Erica got an electric keyboard and Ryan got a battery powered riding Jeep/Fire engine with a real water hose from "Santa". Both came with explicit instructions that these gifts were for sharing - not just for themselves. Nathan was totally drooling over the Jeep and I was drooling over the piano. It certainly was fueling the never-dead passion of mine to take piano lessons.... maybe some day when life slows down (yeah, whatever. Why do I even tell myself lies like that?)

Here are some pictures from our other various Christmas celebrations...

Lowen Family Christmas (my Mom's side) - 18 Great Grandchildren 9 and under! But getting them all in one picture at one time is downright impossible! It was amazing how much fun they had together though.

Simmons Great Grandchildren (my dad's side) 11 kids between newborn and 6 years - someone always has to be crying , right??? Pour Laura - she had just gotten there after 20 hours of travelling back from Australia. She really was a trooper overall.

Great Grandpa and Grandma Simmons - Wonderful time visiting them at their new house... The kids love seeing them.

First Cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house - all 8 of them - they had had enough of each other after 10 days. But what a great time we had! Now onto 2008 - what does God have in store for us? I just know everything will be okay - we made it this far!