Our Christmas celebrations.

Hello blog readers -- Merry (belated) Christmas! 

We had a couple wonderful Christmas celebrations surrounded by family.

On Friday we went to my Grandma's house for a pre-Christmas family get together. We had family that trekked down from North Dakota as well as from over in Illinois. We ate, played cards, opened gifts, and just enjoyed each other's company.

On Saturday my Mom hosted Christmas. My grandparents and my Mom's youngest brother and his wife came to celebrate with us. We played cards and various other games (certain members of my family are Scrabble fiends...ahem). My step-dad made a really delicious seafood chowder for our evening meal. We opened gifts after supper.

On Sunday everyone came back again, and we had our Christmas lunch / supper. I don't know what to call it. It was delicious, and Evelyn wore her beautiful Christmas dress. See?

On Monday I got the best Christmas gift of all -- I was able to Skype with Dan. That's the second time we've been able to communicate at all since he's been gone and we're already 1/4th of the way through this deployment. It was just awesome, I can't even explain how great it was. We Skyped in the morning, and then my family (minus Woogie) headed to Dan's Dad's house for more celebrating.

We had a great time at Dan's family's house and had delicious food. It was a full house with lots of conversation and lots of fawning over the littlest member of our family. Two of Dan's Dad's siblings and their families were able to be there to eat and visit with us, which was very nice.

After everyone left, it was just his sister and his fiancé, his Dad & step-mom, Evelyn, and myself. We opened gifts, then went outside to see all the animals. Monday was also the day I saw my horse for the first time in almost a year and a half -- it was a good reunion. Evelyn thought Dally was quite the sight and eagerly reached out to touch her but Dally wasn't so sure about a little human and shied away.

We came back in and were able to Skype with Dan. As they were Skyping, I headed home so I could hopefully ward off a cranky baby. I wasn't very successful but she only cried for ten minutes before she fell asleep. Once I got back home, Dan and I were able to Skype again. He had woke up extra-extra early before they had to leave so that we could have time to visit.

On Tuesday morning, Evelyn met her Great-Grandma Louise. Evelyn was too busy being a busy-bee to sit for long but did enjoy waving to Louise as she crawled down the hallway. After visiting with Louise and some old family friends, we went back and opened gifts from Dan's step-sister. 

On Thursday, Evelyn got to meet her Grandma Mary and Grandpa Charlie for the first time ever. We visited in their hotel for a bit, then and ate at the Hunan Lion. After eating at Hunan, we came to my Mom's house because it is somewhat baby-proofed plus Evelyn's arsenal of toys is here. We all played on the floor and Mary showed Evelyn how to properly rock out with her Elmo guitar. We opened gifts from both Mary and Charlie as well as from Dan's aunt & uncle.

Evelyn has met all of her grandparents now, except my Dad and his wife, and her Great-Grandma Bertha. Next week (pending on the weather) we'll go down to Omaha for a shin-dig at my aunt's house and she'll get to meet my Dad & step-mom.

It has been great to see so many of our family members and for Evelyn to meet so many of our family members. We were spoiled in not only time spent with relatives but also with gifts -- thank you to all of you. :) We are going to need to check an extra suitcase for the trip back, as well as send some things via the good ol' postal service because everyone was so generous.