Merry Christmas!

I'm a bit behind on my blogging and we have had a very busy week! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas this year. We had a very nice time, visiting family and taking part in all our favorite traditions. We headed to Chris's dad's house for Christmas Eve. It was really nice to see everyone again, and Mira and Amelia loved their presents! Here are they are at Grandpa Randy's and Grandma Terrie's house. This is a painting Mira did on canvas with acrylics for her grandparents:
Amelia received a Cabbage Patch doll named Berry. And Mira got a baking hat, apron, and cupcake set. Here she is wearing it (along with her Little Mermaid costume). She's been "baking" me cupcakes all night!
On Christmas Day we had our immediate family Christmas with just me, Chris, and the girls. We had put out cookies and milk the night before and Santa uses a special key that we leave on the door.
Mira found Santa's footprints at the door the next morning:
Okay, they were probably from the FedEx man, but who knows? Maybe they were from Santa. Mira got a Leapster 2, which she loves playing, and lots of assorted Little Mermaid items:
Later that day we went to Aunt Debbie's house. I forgot my camera in the car but can tell you that there were all sorts of sweets and wonderful relatives there. It was so fun to see you all! Then we headed down to Mom and Dad's for the weekend. All my other siblings, wives, and kids came on Friday, including my sister and her family fresh into town from Australia. It was sooooo great to see them again, as it's been nearly 10 months. We had a wonderful weekend, filled with excellent food, presents, a Santa visit, movies, games, talking, sledding, and a surprise sleigh ride from Mom and Dad. It was so fun and an especially nice day for a sleigh ride. We all enjoyed it so much we are thinking it might be a yearly tradition. The 16 of us were about all the sleigh could handle, and next year there will be 17 of us! Here are a few photos from the weekend.

All the stockings, including one for our forthcoming Baby Girl Norstad:
A visit from Santa! Chesney and Abby thought he sounded curiously like Uncle Justin. I think the magic of Santa is ending soon.
Sleigh ride! It was a beautiful near 30 degrees. And there was plenty of beer to keep the adults warm!



And here is Mira finishing a mosiac she received from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Martha. It's magnetic squares that go on a color-coded board. She loves it!
Happy holidays to all our friends and family, and a special thanks to Mom and Dad for the wonderful weekend! We love you!