family christmas

it has become easier over the years for my family to gather the weekend before Christmas for our holiday celebration.   so i'm cheating with the december photo thing by posting several pictures from that.  :)  i got a little behind with posting these due to needing to submit final grades and traveling back and forth from dubuque to marshalltown.  it was a very fun weekend!  i think the kids had a lot of fun together and everyone got plenty of food and merriment.  i was especially happy to bring a special someone home with me this year (thanks again Todd for joining us!)

checking out what luke got.  

so excited!!

lovely little princesses

luke being silly in his new pajamas

my niece amanda who is going to be 18 in february.  unreal. :)

:)