major holiday documentation

It appears that lately I blog like some churchgoers, only on Christmas and Easter. Such is life, I suppose!

Since we made the effort of taking pictures in our Sunday Best (by bribery of jelly beans, Jonny included), here they are. Be sure to take note of Gabe playing the part of our family dog (pretty much full-time for the past month or two) as he licks Julia's cheek. Atta boy.

We actually have been up to a lot more than celebrating holidays. For instance, Jonny's little sister Rudi was married and we welcomed David into the family, we had lots of beloved family come into town for the wedding, we spent an awesome weekend in Southern Utah with our good friends the Johnsons, Jonny turned 31, and most recently - as pictured here in the Easter morning shots - the Robinsons stayed with us for a week. (We are all suffering from the usual triplet withdrawals, but not as badly this time because now they live in Colorado - so much closer than Maryland. Surely we will see them all again very soon.) Perhaps I will get around to blogging about the above-mentioned events. But most likely you will hear from us again next Christmas...

 

Christmas - Rejholec Style

Julia and Gabe were ecstatic about having a few more Rejholecs join us for Christmas this year. (Jonny and I loved it too, of course. We just weren't running around in circles with excitement like these two balls of energy were!)With Grandma Myra, Uncle Joe, Aunt Rudi, and cousin Hudson, there was hardly a dull moment, as you can see...

A snowball fight naturally broke out after the sledding.

Evy learned to crawl (probably to keep up with the big kids). 

And she was generally loved, as usual.

We all participated in the traditional Christmas Eve tinseling and decorating of the Christmas tree. 

(We save the tinsel and "special ornaments" to put up on this day. Jonny's fam used to do it all on Christmas Eve.) 

There is actually an art to blowing the tinsel.
The Rejholecs have it down. 

(I am not a natural and have some practicing to do!) 

The kids worked on a gingerbread house.  

We also made paper-bag Luminarias, a Durango tradition. 

The kids posed for a PJ picture.

(Which turned into a hilarious photo shoot capturing all of their personalities.)

We were delighted by a White Christmas.

Santa visited! 

Julia was overjoyed with the artichoke in her stocking.

True to first-Christmas-form, Evy ate the wrappings.

Cousins colored together.

The Doctor was In. 

Gabe fell in love with his monster trucks from Joe and Hudson. 

And Christmas Day fun and relaxation ensued. 

It was truly a wonderful Christmas and we were so happy to have beloved family in our home. Thanks for joining us, you four! Here's hoping 2013 is a good one for all.