The Last of Christmas...

 Well, at our house, the Christmas season begins the day after Thanksgiving, and ends at New Year's. So, today, outdoor Christmas lights came down. The rolls of Christmas wrap and bags and bows and tissue paper are all placed neatly in the bin and tucked under the guest bed...with a roll of tape and a scissors for next year...which I will probably forget and hunt for a roll of tape and a scissors all over again. The tree will come down tomorrow. Christmas 2011 is done. It was fun.  Here are a few random pictures from this season's celebrations:  We no longer do gift exchanges for most of our family Christmas gatherings, but Beth's Grandma and Grandpa Amundson still enjoy shopping for her...and she doesn't mind...   They got her these stylish new glasses to add to her dress-up collection.  Funny how certain accessories have an instant transforming effect on the personality...   



Our little tree at home:  Our little tree has gotten a bit wobbly over the years...not to mention, a little small to hold our ornament collection.  We might have Mike persuaded to let us get a new one next year.  Maybe.  I'm finding myself more drawn to muted colors as time goes by.  But not so with wrapping paper.  I like lots of brightly colored wrapping paper.  Maybe it's the quilter in me, but I like to have as many kinds of wrapping paper as possible under the tree.   Time for our little family to open gifts:  Here, Beth is opening her doll clothes that I purchased for her off of Etsy.  These were her favorite gift that she didn't expect. 

And here she's opening her favorite gift that she had to confess she had figured all along...

Here's Gretchen (wearing her Snuggie) with Elizabeth helping her open her favorite gift--an Angry Bird toy which she loves.  She was tearing around the living room with it tonight.  She has figured out how to make it talk and I'm sure she will work hard to tear his stuffing out and find the noise-maker inside (she thinks that's the ultimate goal of all stuffed toys).

Here's a brotherly volleyball competition on the Move:

 Ooh...  and Husband vs. Wife.  Looks a little intense... 

 Can you believe he dared to show up on our doorstep with that abomination on for a shirt?  We shoulda made him turn it inside-out... Well, that about wraps it up.  ;-) I've successfully blogged Christmas just in time for New Year's...