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| Leila and neighbor Janetta making cookies |
Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! We did. This year was different in that we invited my whole family (parents, siblings, and their families) over for Christmas Day... 25 of us, in all. I don't think our house has ever been so full!
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| My husband Jon with daughter Leila, son Jonathan, and grandson Jack |
My brother Don and his family arrived from Arkansas two days before Christmas. They stayed with us a total of three nights, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
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| Cousins |
Here's a picture of our kids together. Don's youngest, Stephen, is in the red coat; his middle child, Beth, has the blue hood; my oldest, Michael, in black coat; Don's oldest, Kenny, in front in red hat; and my two girls, Emma (in glasses) and Leila (on Emma's lap).
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| Quit lurking in the background, Don! |
When they arrived, Beth was getting over a bit of a fever but otherwise everyone seemed healthy. Which was nice-- it meant the kids were able to get in at least a few days of play before flu symptoms set in on us.
After their first night with us, Emma made pancakes. I'm SO glad she likes making the big breakfasts for guests... that's one thing I slack on in the morning (though I'll happily share a pot of coffee with anyone)...
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| They're posing here, but actual snowballs were also thrown that day |
The kids had a good time playing in and out of doors with their southern cousins. I was glad we had snow... this is the one time of year when Don's kids get to experience a good old-fashioned chilly northern winter, and we don't want to disappoint...
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| Susan joins the fun |
On Christmas Eve, Don and Hope took their kids (and tag-alongs Emma and Leila) to church in Menomonie. When they came home, I had a holiday buffet (full of snacky foods and punch) set up for them. Hope's parents, Rick and Ann, were staying at a nearby motel (they're from Michigan) so joined us, as did my brother Bill and Scott (who live in nearby Menomonie). We had a fun, casual Christmas Eve.
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| Rick and Ann, Hope's parents, in this shot |
The "big" crowd came on Christmas Day. Luckily, guests arrived a few at a time, so we were able to spread out the gift opening and the visits a little. We had our meal about 1 pm... it included ham and a venison sauerbraaten, along with creamy mashed potatoes, candied carrots, dinner rolls, caesar salad, stuffing, green beans (two kinds... thanks, Hope!) and a wide assortment of the pickles and relishes I made this summer.
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| More holiday cheer |
Besides the cookies I baked, our guests provided a generous selection of desserts to try, including blueberry pie, bourbon balls, and chocolates loaded with schnapps and whiskey. Someone even brought a couple of mason jars full of moonshine, if you can believe that (tasted like apple pie).
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| Susan and Jack, at front |
Susan and Jay, along with David, Jonathan, and Jack were with us too. Hard to believe the three "big kids" now live in three different states-! Susan hales from Kentucky these days, David's still in West Virginia, and Jonathan lives nearby us in Wisconsin.
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| My brother John and his nieces |
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Jonathan and Jack
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After the meal, while the grown-ups were visiting, Jon took the kids outside for snowmobile rides. Jack didn't ride but was pulled around on a sled by his dad for a little. Susan was feeling feisty so got down on the ground and actually wrestled with whoever wanted to take her on. Logan waited alongside the other kids for his turn on the snowmobile. David had laryngitis so kept to the house.
I feel bad I didn't get photos of everyone-! But I was pretty busy in the kitchen and didn't get to do as much visiting as I would have liked. Thankfully I kept the meal pretty simple so I was able to talk to everyone awhile (if not photograph everyone). For instance, my brother John (pictured above) came all the way from New Jersey! He helped me with dishes :).
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| Scott in Leila's hat |
Even though we had people coming from out of state, most people were settled nearby the night before, so it was actually Mom and Dad who probably traveled the farthest on Christmas Day, to be with us (I think they drove over with John and Jim, who'd stayed in Rhinelander Christmas Eve). They brought their golden retriever, Oscar, with them.
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| Oscar and Teddy |
It's always kind of funny seeing Oscar and Teddy together. Oscar is much bigger than Teddy, but of the two Teddy is definitely the aggressor in their interactions. He barks at Oscar just like he barks at the vacuum cleaner... feverishly. And Oscar just ignores it. After they're together awhile and outside, Teddy starts acting a little more calm and gives Oscar a break. But always at first, he goes nuts. Oscar is so patient with him.
Look at this cool ornament that my brother Bill made me... out of paper. Perfect addition to this year's Christmas tree... Teddy.
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| Logan and Kenny |
Susan, David, and Jonathan's little brother on their mom's side, Logan, spent a couple of nights with us this holiday. Logan is just a few months apart from my brother's son Kenny in age, so those two spent some time hanging out together. But also Logan plays great with Emma. They are at that board game-loving age, so spent a lot of time playing UNO and games like that while he was here.
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| David |
One night while David was here, he, Michael, and I went to see The Hobbit at the theater. We're fans of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and like seeing movies together. David's pretty knowledgeable about movies and capable of some great discussions.
Anyway, we got through all but the last 10 minutes of the movie when a bulb broke at the theater... and we were out of luck! We were given movie passes to go back again sometime, but still-! Just 10 minutes to go-!! Sheesh.
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| Jon with his 3 girls |
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Susan, now a married woman, seemed happier than ever and brought lots of nice presents for everyone. Those polka dot pajamas she's wearing, at right, are one piece footie pajamas she got from Jay for Christmas. They were pretty much her uniform the whole time she was here :).
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| Story time |
Susan noticed how much more talkative and affectionate Leila is these days. Since starting school she's become much more social and interested in other people. And she just LOVES Susan. Susan is so good with kids and really makes a point of enjoying all the little kids she gets to be around (including her nephew Jack!).
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| Kenny learning to knit |
Just a few hours after this picture was taken, poor Kenny was laying on the couch shivering, in the first stages of a miserable fever and flu. He was the first of a whole string of us to become seriously sick after our get-together. Most of the people affected did not have diarrea and vomiting, though, so I'm going to stick to my story that they did NOT get food poisoning at my house.
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| Jammin' Jay |
And actually, the highly contagious flu that's been affecting people across the country started making headlines after Christmas, so I'm thinking that's what we may have experienced.
Christmas Day, Susan's husband Jay was silly (see photo at left) and helpful (he peeled potatoes). A day or two later he was wiped out and sick, as was Susan.
Anyway, I'll end it there. Another Christmas has come and gone. Everyone made it home safely. Happy New Year!!!!!
