Christmas & New Years Highlights

Every year at Christmastime we spend a great deal of time with our families. This past Christmas was no different.  Our first celebration of the year is always with Heli Dad's side of the family.  This day is always fun and the kids especially always love it, as all the cousins that have been of an age to play with are on this side.  It was a day of fun conversation and planning get-togethers for the coming year and more!
 
For several days before Christmas the kids and I went through bins and bins of clothes that we've "put away" to give away at some point.  That point finally came (as it hadn't at any time in the past) and we gave tons of clothes away to charity.  Both the kids and I were amazed by how much there was to give away, and hope that everything passed on will find a new home with someone who will appreciate it.
 

We made/started a new tradition this year of decorating the tree (with the hanging décor) on Christmas Eve.  In the past Heli Dad and I have always done the bulk of decorating the tree (in the years that we've actually had the tree up - see below for more on that) but this year beyond putting the garland and lights, we let the kids put everything else on.  The result, I think, was a very pretty tree and the kids were excited and happy to get to do their part.
 
For the first time in years we had my families traditional Pizza & PJ's Christmas Eve event at our house with my parents.  And since both my sisters [aka-The Sisters] (and their crews) weren't here we were able to spend Christmas morning at quietly at home with just us and the kids.  This was again for the first time in years - in fact, after thinking about and discussing it, we realized we haven't been home for Christmas morning since before Angel Face was born... And she's 6! Needless to say the kids LOVED this!!
 
Then it was out to my parents for Day 1 of Christmas at the Farm.  With the sisters away it was a much smaller, though no less quiet, affair but it was really, really fun.  The high points of the day included: fine wine, really great turkey, and some very interesting conversations.
 
Heli Dad and I, along with Gamer Boy, came home Boxing Day to relax, regroup and play with our new toys.  The Princess and Angel Face stayed with Grandma & Grandpa at the farm for the duration, and in fact probably would have put up a fight had we tried to force them home.  Of course eventually we did have to force them home and they eventually forgave us... I think.
 
We were back out for Day 2 of Christmas at the Farm when The Sisters arrived a few days after Christmas Day.  Again we celebrated with tons of awesome food, hours of games and hilarious reminiscing amongst us "mid-generation" in the family (me, The Sisters, our first cousins, and ALL our significant others) and of course plentiful beverages for everyone!

Another couple days to recover then Heli Dad and I once again had people gathered at our house - this time it was a small group (grandparents, one SIL with her fiancé, and a family friend) for New Years Eve.  As we hosted at our house this year, I spent most of the day in preparations - cleaning, shopping, cooking and mixing up Sangria for drinks.  It was a fun night, and though neither as loud nor as rowdy as previous NYE parties we've hosted, was an extremely nice way to ring in the New Year.
 
We started 2015 off by treating my parents to NY Brunch of eggs benedict, served with homemade Irish Cream in our coffee.
 
All in all, the holidays were a lot of fun and so many great new memories were made!!