Oh, it was a wonderful Christmas

We're back from our holiday travels, and I am just grinning looking at the pictures. I know I've said it before, but I LOVE visiting family and friends during Christmastime. I'm excited for 2011 to arrive, but I wish the end of December could last a little bit longer.  Brian and I agree that our favorite part of Christmas was sitting around with family in the evening.  We all gathered around a table or sofa, played games, visited, ate chex mix, drank a glass of wine, and snacked on ambrosia or Christmas cookies.  Absolutely perfect.

We spent the first part of Christmas week with Brian's family.  Brian's brother, Chris, and our sister-in-law, Kristin, are also expecting a baby in 2011!  They're due the end of June, so this summer has been dubbed "the summer of babies".  We're so excited that these two little cousins will have one another to play with. 

We drove up to Chris and Kristin's home for our family Christmas. 

Opening gifts at Chris and Kristin's house

While we were visiting Brian's family, we also had a chance to meet Carson!  Carson arrived at the end of October, but Brian's busy schedule didn't allow time for us to drive over and meet him. We have been dying to see Dave and Francine, and their new baby boy.  Words cannot even describe how precious this little boy is.  Carson is the best little baby, and we can't wait to see him again soon!



Can you tell that Brian loves babies?



Dave and Brian with the newest member of the wolf pack

We headed over to visit my mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve.  We enjoyed spending the rest of the weekend and a few additional days with Nana and the extended fam.

Nana, her children, and most of her grandkids

Opening gifts by the Christmas tree



Brian with the stocking my mom cross stitched for him

My cousin, Robert, and his wife, Nichole, are expecting Baby Lupo sometime during the first part of March.  Nana is thrilled to add to great-grandbabies to the family in 2011.


Nana with her soon-to-be great-grandbabies (in utero)

It seems like each Christmas, my mom finds a puzzle for the family to work on while we're sitting around the fire.  This year's puzzle. . .

Wishing you all joy and peace in 2011!