8 Times a Christmas

Yay! I have my computer back and with all the information still on it! Andrew took it to the Apple store on Saturday and it turns out the trackpad clicker was stuck in the down position. Even though the problem wasn't a big deal, they did have to perform some minor surgery. They put in a new keyboard and trackpad. The laptop looks brand new again! And we're back in bloggin' business.

Now, you might be wondering why is it so hard for Holly to actually get updates up on the blog. Well, I tend to get stuck when I have a really big post and then everything just gets very intimidating to get back on track (like right now). Christmas is so crazy for us. We have 7 or 8 separate "Christmases" or present opening occasions. I know! Totally over the top and insane, right?! We do that because we make an attempt to see all parts of our family at Christmas every year. We jostled going to some family and not others for a few years and trust me, spending two crazy weeks in December is worth it! We get it all done in one fell swoop and everyone is happy (at least I think they are). The kids are glassy-eyed and strung out at the end of it. But we think it is important to give everyone their own time.

I was originally planning on doing a separate post for each group, but now you're getting them all lumped together and in condensed format just so I can move on. It's almost March already, jeez!


Making cookies with Nana Mary.


Ella opening up the knitted sweater I made for her stuffed animals and my mom trying on her knitted socks I made.

A group shot with Nana Mary & Papi Dave.

Christmas at B-pa and Gramma Clare's and with Uncle Sam. (Sorry I guess I didn't take very many pictures there. I'll have to be better about that.) ;-)

All set for bed Christmas Eve night with cookies and milk out for Santa.


The HUGE pile of gifts at my Grandma Mazie's house and Ella with "Santa" aka Steve my cousin Kari's boyfriend. Every year Santa makes an appearance at my Grandma's house. When I was little it was actually my Grandma who was dressed as Santa. Can you believe no one noticed she wasn't in the room? ;-)

Ella and Emilee hanging out and Braeden pulling his pants up. Isn't he a cutie pie?

We played Christmas pictionary with my mom's side of the family Christmas night after a nice dinner at our house.

And on to Wisconsin on December 27th. We opened gifts with the Comande side of the family.

Lily with Great-Grandma Iz and Ella with Great-Grandpa Nick and Uncle Randy.

Almost all of the Comande side of the family

We visited with Andrew's cousin Eric and his family while in Wisconsin. Doesn't little Mykenna look cute in her sunglasses, phone and purse we gave her?

Every year for the last four or five years my sister-in-law Jenelle and our cousin-in-law Gina (get it, we all married into the Isaacson family) get together and go get pedicures and have lunch. We all look forward to this little outing every Christmas!

Lily received a Penguin Webkinz and Ella received a tiger. :-)

Hanging out with Aunt Jenelle and Uncle Ben.

An Isaacson family photo.

Whew. Okay. Christmas is done. We enjoyed a very nice New Year's as well. We went to Roma Lodge to visit with the Comandes again and then headed over to Ben and Jenelle's house for a wonderful dinner and hanging out with their friends. Ha! I'll take a short-cut and send you over to Ben's blog for that one! You have to scroll down a bit to find the New Year's post.

PS. Despite how I was raised and much to my mother's chagrin, I have been AWFUL at thank you notes the last couple years. Just wanted to say a collective thank you to everyone who took the time, made the effort and thought through gift choices for all of us for the holidays. We really appreciate it and have given a new home to all our treasures! THANK YOU SO MUCH!