Christmas Cheer!

I'm finally getting around to posting about Christmas. We went to Portland and stayed with my mom for a couple of days. She found these funny head bands and the boys thought they were hilarious. In fact, Matthew needed to wear 2 at a time. 

We went to Sunriver with the whole Brady family (well, except Michael) for a few fun-filled days. The drive was better than I had it worked up to be. No one had to use chains and there were no accidents. We got there after dark which made Sean really sad; he was really hoping to play in the snow right when we got there. After breakfast the next day all the kids geared up for sledding. It was so convenient that the stairs were covered in snow to become our sledding hill. We were out there for hours and it was great!

A few people stayed inside the nice warm house and watched. 

Christmas Eve is also Kira's birthday, so we had cupcakes and presents for her earlier in the day.

 Matthew trying to give Kira a hug, and she doesn't seem too pleased.

We had such a great time. The kids played well. The girls started a dessert store under the kitchen bar and had a great customer turnout. We played lots of games. The adults stayed up late and talked and laughed tons. 

 Matthew was drinking sparkling cider, I promise!

David designed a logo for us and Ben and Nicki screen printed them onto shirts for all of us. I love the talented family that I married into!

We played some minute-to-win-it games. They got pretty intense! 

 Nutstacker

 I don't really have a name for this one, but we knocked down water bottles with a Santa hat after spinning around 10 times. 

 Kira was our helper here. We threw marshmallows through a wreath into the pots. She would tell everyone "Good job!" and "You can do it!" and then pick up after us.

 Chris is a good sport! We made Christmas trees out of canned whip cream. Then it evolved....

The second full day (which was Christmas day), after presents, most of the kids went out in the snow again. I was done, so I stayed inside and watched the kids play. David was attacked by some of them and was nice enough to give them a ride. 

 There was a lot of napping going on this day. I thought it was funny that Jon and I were sitting right there, but Sean climbed up on David and Chris for a little snuggle. Later that day, Briella fell asleep on David too. He must have felt like Uncle of the year!

We had to get some pictures of all of us together in our shirts.

The drive back was good again. We were in the light the whole time, so I took some pictures of the winter wonderland.

  

When we got back to Portland, Amy's family was there and I wanted to play some of the games with her girls too.

The little kids are pretty flexible.

Matthew tried and tried to do this one (you pick up a paper bag with just your mouth) and he was getting so frustrated. I made a bag a little taller for him so he could do it. Oh he was so happy once he got it and everyone cheered for him. It was a good moment.

I hope you all had a wonderful and Merry Christmas too!