Merry Christmas Weekend

We started our Merry Making Christmas Eve by having Kyle's sister Kim and her family over. We ate well on the raclette machine and then we played games.

This was the yummy feast. You know there is something rewarding about grilling your own food, melting cheese and feasting on great food. We got to share a lot of good conversation too.

The cousins got to dance on the Wii. It was fun watching them bust a move. Little Kole-Kole was quite funny trying to keep up with the big boys.

I don't remember the last time Kyle and I played Euchre, but it's been a long time. We lost two games in a row. But it was fun playing.

You know the teens still wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. They were up and ready to go at 6:20 ish Saturday morning. You know they are never up before their alarm on school days....

They were both excited to open their presents and then try them out. Kayla is becoming a digital camera pro. I even stole a couple of her shots for the post today. We spent lunch with Mom and Tom and had some more raclette. I made a very rich chocolate cheesecake. I usually tackle a more delicate dessert for Christmas. It's kind of fun for me to bake so I try new recipes every year for Christmas day. I think this was just a bit to chocolatey. (never thought I'd say that)

We spent the afternoon playing the new Wii. It was a lot of fun. We laughed a lot.

My brother Mike enjoying Christmas dinner at my Dad and Kathy's house.

My sister Amy and her husband Carlo. Mike's wife Hannah and the granddaughters Maddie, Malea and Riley. We got to eat ham and my grandma's famous (in our family) potato salad. We always have pickles and olives which for some reason is craved by me only at Dad's house. Isn't it interesting how sometimes a setting makes certain foods more appealing than others.

Carter was unwrapping presents while we were eating dinner. He couldn't wait any longer. He unwrapped the present he had picked out for dad. That's the great thing about grandparents, they don't mind whether they get to unwrap their presents or if their grandsons do it.

Dad and Cathy passing out gifts to everyone. Christmas day was very relaxing and fun for us. I really enjoyed every thing we did this weekend. I really felt like I can come around my dad more often. I think it's time to let bygones be bygones and move forward forgetting the heartaches of the past. I think it will be best for both of us. I can tell he misses my family. I really feel like my days will be merry and bright for awhile. Maybe it's just the perspective. Who knows, but I like it.