Christmas with Friends

It's a tradition dating way back... ok so technically only three years, but it's a tradition nonetheless. Since Drew was born, we've started having a Christmas dinner with my best friend and her family and with their cousin's family (who is in fact our day care provider).

Year 1 - started out with dinner and presents at Brian and Stephanie's house. The kids exchange presents together. Drew was about 3 months old, so he wasn't exactly "into it". My friend Lisa and I think it was her son Trevor (who would've been 5 at the time) missed out on the fun because he spiked a fever.

Year 2 - the three families traveled to Lake Tahoe to enjoy some R&R and again dinner (or several meals) and presents. Here's a recap of that trip on my old blog here. Oh, I should add that trip started with Drew throwing up on the way up there and a few poo-throughs once we arrived.

Now for the story about year three....

I went despite being MISERABLE with a sinus infection and UTI. So I figured I'd really be the "life" of the party this year. Heck I was happy the moments I could breathe or stop hacking. My evening was spent yelling at Drew to stay away from Ms. Stephanie's rotating tree, touching the ornaments, and presents. He doesn't do this at home, but for some reason this particular night he was being a stinker....

The kids - all 5 of them - were all having a really good time together, running round and round the house, screaming every step of the way. There were only two casualties... Mason (4) got a bloody nose when his brother (nearly 3) accidentally pummeled him... and Drew when he got smacked by another.

We had a glorious dinner, which due to illness I couldn't taste - but everyone else really enjoyed it thoroughly. Of course at this point we've been there a few hours and the older kids (ranging in age from 7-2) were antsy to open gifts. Here's a brief glimpse at the chaos....


Yes the kids were frantically opening their gifts and wrapping paper and tissue was flying everywhere! Drew was equally excited about his gifts...


here he's inspecting his new Elmo movie.

After the chaos, we put Drew into a pair of his new jammies that Troy and Mason gave him. Troy was donning his new PJ's, while Mason was sporting a unique ensemble of Thomas and Transformers that can only come from the mind of a 4 year old.... and we posed them for the traditional couch shot.

Troy is making faces, Mason is in the middle, and Drew - well he has the "Home Alone" impersonation thing going on. It turned out to be a remarkable evening, and what's even more remarkable is that Drew was as good as he was despite not getting a nap and staying up well past 10pm!

It's always a great time when we all get together. Now if only we can work to get EVERYONE healthy for next year's shindig....