Is Koontz's right, or should it just be Koontz'?? I always wonder that. Anyway, here is a Christmas post...better late than never, right??
We spent Christmas Eve with the McAllister clan in Huntington Beach. Instead of the normal gift exchange, and dinner we decided to do a little wine tasting and play a few games. It took the pressure off to find the perfect gift for everyone, and helped the cash flow situation for many of us also. It was a great new tradition, that I think we should carry on into the future. We were each to bring a bottle of wine that was less than $15. We tasted and cast our vote for the best red wine and white wine, and the winners got a prize. Then we did a little carol singing...and ate and ate and ate. It was a super fun time with family, and friends. Here are some pictures of the evening...the wine, the spread of appetizers and the gang!!
Christmas Day is always the same...we get Leah, and open presents to and from the 3 of us, and Santa. Then we chill...we stay in PJ's play with our toys and hang out. It is the best! We don't go anywhere and we don't have to rush around from place to place! This year, Leah really wanted a DS, and not just a DS, but a DS-I. The I is very important, because that one has a camera, and can do other things that the regular DS can't do...can you tell I am not too up on fancy Game Boy type gadgets. Anyway, she got the DSi, some games and the best part of all, a Nerf cover for the DS that adds about a 1/2 inch of padding. She has already mastered some of her games and is ready to get a few more. Michael got a bunch of new parts for his mountain bike and I got a Kindle and new shades. It was a nice simple, Christmas at home.
The day after Christmas, we headed to Mountain Center...above Palm Desert to our cousin Amanda's house for all-McAllister family Christmas. We were all there minus Trevor :(. It was an awesome time of good food, and good times with a White Elephant Gift Exchange and S'more around the fire pit.
Leah enjoying her S'more!!
The reason we are all family...Uncle Mike, Aunt Diana, Uncle Jim and Dad (L-R)
The Dan McAllister Family
Me, Dad and Mom
The Cousin, minus Linds and Trevor :(
The Holidays were a great time...and we had a wonderful time relaxing and spending time with our family...we are so blessed!!
Laura!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on attending your 1st hockey game. I miss going to games so much but when Ali and I are back stateside after June and before we move to Estonia, we plan to attend as many games as we can.
Bike riding and ski vacations too! I miss all of these activities. Guatemala has been grand but I am looking forward to getting back on the bike on a regular basis.
Expect a letter in the mail from us soon. Great blog,
-Aaron