Thursday, January 3, 2008

Christmas in Five Places

This year we opened Christmas presents in five homes with five of our families. We couldn't figure out how to be with Ashley and Todd in Boston or Sam and Lindsay in North Carolina, but we celebrated with the others in some way.

First we had a little Christmas with Mao, Cathy and Hunter in Vegas following the NFR. They were leaving on the 20th for Colombia to spend Christmas with Mao's family there.


Next we had Christmas with JR, Casey, Mackenzie and Kayla at our house on Saturday before we left the following day for Utah. They were good sports about us being gone Christmas day two years in a row. Next year we will definitely stay in California!

Alan included pictures of the girls and this cute family on his blog. So I thought I would share the great gift they gave me even though this isn't my best photo.


We drove to Utah and slept Christmas Eve with Sunny and Steve and all seven. It was so fun to be there amidst the chaos of Santa's surprises and many, many gifts to unwrap.

Oldest to youngest (the twins don't count this time) come down the stairs to see what Santa left.

So many presents and so many kids to choose pictures to include!


Then it was on to Adam and Jennifer's where Gordon and Karen Schooley had been spending Christmas with them as well. It was fun to be with them and see what Jade and Bailey had received. We opened our presents to each other...


... and shared a little breakfast, a breakfast dish that was a tradition of the Schooleys which we also adopted some years ago thanks to Jen.

Finally, we headed down the road to the Toblers. Early morning Christmas excitement had long since passed, but was rekindled as we opened presents with them.


Jack loved this gift. Kate just loved the ribbon and wrappings.


Halle and Lacey in their new clothes and cute hats.