Holiday Memories

We had a fantastic Holiday Season! From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we made wonderful memories! Here's a snap shot of our Holidays (minus the Santa visit you already saw):

Thanksgiving we were "surprised" by a week-long visit with Grandma and Grandpa B (what a great week!). Grandpa Bob also joined for a Thanksgiving celebration:

Owen and His Turkey Leg - I know it's blurry, but it was priceless nonetheless!

An Olive per Finger

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed down Mt. Baker Highway in search of our annual Christmas tree! This year, we were accompanied by Grandma and Grandpa G, Grandpa Bob, and Grandma and Grandpa J!

The boys searched high and low, and, after selecting many "Charlie Brown" favorites, selected a "Boys' Tree" for the playroom.

Grandpa Bob and Collin carried it proudly back to the truck ... ok, Collin carried it a few rows, then Grandpa took over!

Happy Holidays 2007

The boys decorated their tree the night we put it up - and then again every night thereafter!

Saturday the 22nd, we hosted the Extended Family Carmody Christmas! It was a blast! We rented tables and chairs and set up the garage as a dining hall / after-party casino, and I was amazed by how well 40 people fit in our home!

The kids dig in to the feast!

The women dig into the overseas treasure! Tammi brought all sorts of wonderful gifts from her mid-east adventures.

Gift Exchange Extravaganza!

Christmas Eve the boys made Gingerbears for Santa:
While waiting for them to cook and cool, the boys quickly bathed, donned their PJs, and watched their 2007 holiday favorite: Frosty the Snowman (although Shrek the Halls was a close second):

Decorating Time!

Good Night!

And then Santa came:
Christmas Morning:

"A Bulldozer! He remembered! Mom, look! Santa remembered and brought me what I asked for!!!"

Perhaps (somewhat astonishingly) the biggest hits of the morning were the Shrek and Donkey dolls, which the boys LOVED! Collin loaded his in the back of his remote-control pick-up and raced Shrek around the house:
Christmas morning was blissful this year as the boys had infinite amounts of patience and wanted to open each gift, one at a time, expressed gratefulness after each one (beyond my wildest dreams!), and then wanted to play with each before opening another! We even stopped the gift-opening halfway to eat breakfast and enjoy the Christmas Day parade!

It was a wonderful holiday season. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we had a whirlwind time! The boys' belief in Santa was solidified! We made memories for a lifetime, and we were able to see almost all of our family over the course of the season! Thank you to my wonderful family for making it another magical season!