Being blessed with two fantastic families,
we had several holiday festivities to attend!
Below are just a few highlights...
we had several holiday festivities to attend!
Below are just a few highlights...
Christmas Eve Dinner
with FurnerFam
We received this raclette machine for our wedding (thanks Michael and Isa!) and had yet to use it. It's basically a tabletop grill with little trays that melt yummy raclette cheese. Mom prepared a great spread... sliced meats and vegetables, roasted potatoes and broccoli.
After dinner, we all asked this question... if we can melt cheese, what else can we melt? It was experiment time! First was the dark chocolate, next the caramel and next....
the Peeps...
Before....
After...
Who would've thought we could be so devious on Christmas Eve!
After we recovered from a wonderful and gooey dinner,
we spent the rest of the evening opening presents and enjoying one another's company.
Thank you Melinda and Emma for driving in from Chicago!
Christmas Morning at Home
We have a tradition of spending Christmas morning together in our own home exchanging gifts. Although we agreed to not do as many gifts this year (as our big gift to each other was an LCD projector we purchased in October) we just couldn't resist buying a few gifts....
Christmas Day Dinner
with the Brown Family
After a fun morning at home, we drove down to
Mom and Dad Brown's for a great Christmas dinner.
It was so nice to catch up with family,
exhange gifts and enjoy a great meal.
We played some great games around the dinner table.
If you've never played "Sausage," email me... it's hilarious!
Paulie being his fantastically expressive self! He is 12 and truly
one of the most sincere pre-teens I have ever met...
always kind and sincere to all family members.
We're so lucky to have him as our nephew!
The Great Gin-Gin (grandmother on Dad's side).
She is 91 years old!
Anderson Christmas Party
As we all didn't get to spend Christmas Day together,
we continued the Christmas celebration with a family
party at Rachel and Paul's home, catching up with
aunts and uncles from near and far ...
(well.. not that far... Pennsylvania... :)
It was an evening filled with great food
(yummy turkey dinner!) and generous gift exchange.
Rachel planned a mad-lib version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
that was too funny...
We played the gift-exchange-game-of-many-names:
Yankee Trader, White Elephant, Give-n-Take...
Basically everyone brings a wrapped gift and
we take turns picking from the pile or "stealing"
from someone else. Unfortunately my strategy
didn't quite pay off...
I ended up with the gift I brought...
Daniel won an '80's music boxed set that was pretty great though.
Daniel and I introduced one of our favorite games and with a rendition
of a song and before we knew it we were in the ultimate of competitions....
Wii American Idol!
With comments provided by Wii versions of
Randy, Paula and Simon, we took turns selecting songs
and singing at the top of our lungs!
It was fun to see (and hear) everyone
let loose and belt it!
I really think Karaoke is one of the best party games...
everyone got into it!
Megan and Rachel
The ladies singing it!
Phill, Daniel and Paul
Sisters in Song
Megan, Aunt Jacque, Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob
All in all, it was a fantastic holiday!
We are blessed with remarkable family!
We are thankful for the joy they bring to our lives.
XO
with FurnerFam
We received this raclette machine for our wedding (thanks Michael and Isa!) and had yet to use it. It's basically a tabletop grill with little trays that melt yummy raclette cheese. Mom prepared a great spread... sliced meats and vegetables, roasted potatoes and broccoli.
After dinner, we all asked this question... if we can melt cheese, what else can we melt? It was experiment time! First was the dark chocolate, next the caramel and next....
the Peeps...
Before....
After...
Who would've thought we could be so devious on Christmas Eve!
After we recovered from a wonderful and gooey dinner,
we spent the rest of the evening opening presents and enjoying one another's company.
Thank you Melinda and Emma for driving in from Chicago!
Christmas Morning at Home
We have a tradition of spending Christmas morning together in our own home exchanging gifts. Although we agreed to not do as many gifts this year (as our big gift to each other was an LCD projector we purchased in October) we just couldn't resist buying a few gifts....
Christmas Day Dinner
with the Brown Family
After a fun morning at home, we drove down to
Mom and Dad Brown's for a great Christmas dinner.
It was so nice to catch up with family,
exhange gifts and enjoy a great meal.
We played some great games around the dinner table.
If you've never played "Sausage," email me... it's hilarious!
Paulie being his fantastically expressive self! He is 12 and truly
one of the most sincere pre-teens I have ever met...
always kind and sincere to all family members.
We're so lucky to have him as our nephew!
The Great Gin-Gin (grandmother on Dad's side).
She is 91 years old!
Anderson Christmas Party
As we all didn't get to spend Christmas Day together,
we continued the Christmas celebration with a family
party at Rachel and Paul's home, catching up with
aunts and uncles from near and far ...
(well.. not that far... Pennsylvania... :)
It was an evening filled with great food
(yummy turkey dinner!) and generous gift exchange.
Rachel planned a mad-lib version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
that was too funny...
We played the gift-exchange-game-of-many-names:
Yankee Trader, White Elephant, Give-n-Take...
Basically everyone brings a wrapped gift and
we take turns picking from the pile or "stealing"
from someone else. Unfortunately my strategy
didn't quite pay off...
I ended up with the gift I brought...
Daniel won an '80's music boxed set that was pretty great though.
Daniel and I introduced one of our favorite games and with a rendition
of a song and before we knew it we were in the ultimate of competitions....
Wii American Idol!
With comments provided by Wii versions of
Randy, Paula and Simon, we took turns selecting songs
and singing at the top of our lungs!
It was fun to see (and hear) everyone
let loose and belt it!
I really think Karaoke is one of the best party games...
everyone got into it!
Megan and Rachel
The ladies singing it!
Phill, Daniel and Paul
Sisters in Song
Megan, Aunt Jacque, Aunt Barb and Uncle Bob
All in all, it was a fantastic holiday!
We are blessed with remarkable family!
We are thankful for the joy they bring to our lives.
XO
