Christmas Eve

Playing a Christmas Trivia card game (The boys won- boo.)

After-Mass pictures... I want to have Mike Photoshop these- there's one in every photo who's making a face or closing eyes.

Adults are not immune.

After dinner, the kids opened Secret Sibling gifts

Joel took the prize- he gave Opal one of his own favorite stuffed animals <3

Lu had some help from Mom with Iris's cheetah print blanket sweatshirt.

Watching my favorite, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

And our traditional Christmas Eve read-alouds by Mom- Seigfried's Silent Night, The Polar Express, The Christmas Kitten, and An Orange for Frankie.

Advent fun, friends, & festivities

Blurry, but here's Jack with some of his swing dance friends

Kaethe and I did the Run Santa Run! 5K in downtown Madison

It was a bit drizzly but not bad- we had some great splits, too!

We all enjoyed some take-out Thai food at our house afterwards for our annual Ward-Ryan Christmas celebration (and Christmas cookie making, game playing, Christmas card addressing, Elf watching, festive beverage drinking, catch-up chatting, general merry-making...

Opal at a friend's birthday party

I really wish his socks read "If you can read this... fetch me some eggnog" X-P

How I love these little people.

Mike took the kids to Famous Dave's and the Madison holiday light show one night so I could get some uninterrupted painting done. Abigail sent me these pics.

A Christmas dinner/movie/game get-together celebration with our friends.

My mom surprised me by sending this beautiful church to add to my window arrangement.