Whew, what a busy Holiday!! I love Christmas, but there is a part of me that is glad when it's all over. But I'm not so glad when I have to find a new home for all the toys - that's a challenge!
Most of our "partying" was done the weekend before Christmas. On Saturday the 19th we headed to Nick's Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Steve's home on Lake Florida in Spicer for the extended Frank Christmas for a soup lunch. We participated in the annual adult ornament exchange (that was over 2 1/2 hours long!!!!), the kid's book exchange, and the Mogen David wine toast (call me crazy, but I actually kinda like the way it tastes!). It's always fun to get the Frank clan together since it doesn't happen too often because we're spread all over the state. This year, Aunt Bernie and Uncle Rick from Arizona even came home for the festivities so that was a nice surprise!
After we just couldn't stay any longer and had to leave the ornament exchange early from Bonnie's (or in other words we got the ornaments we liked so we made a run for it!) we headed back to Brownton for the extended Loncorich Christmas party at my mom and dad's. It's always so fun to see all the Loncoriches; especially the brand new arrival - baby Natalie! We had our annual Gift Card exchange and the kids exchanged presents. And then Santa made his way over to Brownton!! That was the highlight of the whole night - two 2 1/2 year olds and an 8 year old jumping around and acting all crazy because they were so excited to see Santa! The girls must have been very good this year because they all got three presents from Santa!
So that was Saturday... then Sunday we had Christmas again at my mom and dad's with my sisters and brothers-in-law. Once again, like every year, we got completely spoiled!!! It was a nice relaxing day with good food and good company! Unfortunately, the Kinzler extended family Christmas was also on Sunday in Willmar but we couldn't make it to that party. Next year, we promise!
And... for the main event..... Christmas Day! Well actually Christmas Eve Day. We did the Santa-thing on the morning of the 24th - we had too many other things going on Sunday and I didn't want to be rushed for opening Julianne's presents so Santa came a day early to our house. This was the first year that Julianne actually had any clue what Santa Claus was. We left cookies and milk for Santa and corn for Rudolph by the fire place before she went to bed and showed her they were gone in the morning. I would have to say she was more upset than anything that Santa ate her cookie! And she really had no interest in opening her presents when she woke up, straaaaange kid... but she eventually came around and dug in and opened them all in 10 minutes! This is also the first year she could really open the presents herself and she's now got that skill mastered.
Christmas Eve we spent with Nick's sisters and brothers-in-law at his parents house and we were all spoiled once again! We have tons of fun with the Frank's - mostly because we watch Julianne and Shay play together and smile from ear-to-ear at how darn cute they are and how they are "best buddies." It's so nice to see that get along so well and play so nice together (well, most of the time!). I really hope their relationship stays that way through those troublesome teenage years!
Christmas Day we went to church and then headed back out to my mom and dad's for dinner. Just my grandmas and Alissa were there so it was a relaxing Sunday. We played a few rounds of Uno and again ate waaaaay to much!
So, in a nutshell, that was our Holiday Wrap-Up! We are blessed with such wonderful family and are so glad that we get to spend the Holidays with them.
Nick and I at my mom and dad's
"Santa's here, Santa's here!" Julianne, Rachel and Lucy excited for Santa at the Loncorich Christmas party.
Julianne whipping up some breakfast in her new kitchen from Santa
Santa presents
"Enough pictures mom... I have more presents to open!"
Shay, Bree and Jules
Julianne in her standard "cheese" pose
