Eaters

All these kids do is eat, I swear.

Uncle Mark Reading

The last night they were here, Uncle Mark read to all the kids.

 We also walked the Turquoise Loop to look at Xmas light that night. We sure had a great visit with them. As loud & crazy as the house was, we actually missed them after they all left.

St. Stephen's Day Hike

For a number of years now we've gone hiking the day after Christmas, which is the feast of St. Stephen. We hiked up one of the mountains east of Squaw Peak. Mark, Jess, crew, and Mark's friend Tim joined us. Bobbins made a go for it with Baby Jack on her back. Moosy was on mine. I carried Jack in my arms the last 1/3 up to the saddle. Most of us went on up to the peak while Bobbins and Jess stayed on the saddle with the littlest kids. It was a great outing in nature.

 

Christmas Day

To be honest, the day went by so fast, I don't remember much. We did stay home for all of it, which I appreciated. Nana T & Pop came over at 630, per Bobbins' instructions, which was too early. They should've stuck with the 7am I told them, which is when the kids arose. Nana & Pop brought over a bunch of delicious breakfast food, which we devoured pretty quickly after opening presents. The girls did well and appreciated their gifts appropriately. We [I mean I] gave Booch too much stuff; he was overwhelmed. Moosy seemed more interested in pestering his brother and cousins than his presents. Baby Jack was just happy to be there.

Nana, Pop, Jess, Bobbins, and I did a fun 300 piece nativity puzzle. Mark took Will shooting with Mike, Mikey, and Paul. I prepped the ham for dinner with my dad, Jay, K & Z. Only $20 from Costco, it turned out great. After dinner, K, Z, Bobbins, and I did a 500 piece Diamondbacks Stadium puzzle. Later still, a bunch of us played Oh Hell. K squeaked by my in the first game, while I held off Mark in the second. My uncle Jack came down for cards, which was cool.

 

 

 

 

 

Girls in their new jammies playing a game with Grampy on his phone.

Christmas Eve

Mark, my girls & Anna (who spent the night with us), and I started Christmas Eve off right with a 15 decade rosary at the Planned Parenthood in Glendale. It didn't rain much, thankfully. Harold, our seminarian friend, was there, which was nice to see him. Mark also saw the girl he was homecoming king with at NDP back in the day. Walking back to our car we also found a toy gun on the sidewalk that magically became a gift for Will & Otto the next day.

I did our hour of Adoration, with Bobbins and the kids picking me up right at 3 to head out to St. Bernard's in Scottsdale for 4pm Mass. Sadly, this felt more like a school play than the holy sacrifice of the Mass, but we made it. Then to the Compound for chaos, dinner & dessert, and some gifts. It was not exactly the nice time with family that Bobbins and I were hoping for.

The photo of Mr. & Mrs. M has all their grandkids save 1, Mikey. The photo with all of us (kids and adults) includes everyone. It was quite a crew!

We were home by 830, which gave us plenty of time to set up for the next day.

 

Helping Mom Make Potatoes for Xmas Eve Dinner

Visit to Cemetery / Glasses / Tea Party / Mr. M and Kids



Bobbins, our kids, Mark and his kids, and other Munn's all packed this into one day. They wanted to visit Uncle Jack and Aunt Gin at St. Francis Cemetery, and Bobbins' mom had already set up a tea party. Remember Moosy breaking Bobbins' glasses? She finally got an appt. to get new ones. Moosy, for his part, thought Papa's glasses worked just fine. That is a nice photo of Bobbins' dad with his kids. Jack's missing, of course.

 

 
 

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Bobbins' brother Mark, his wife, Jessica, and his three kids came for Christmas this year and stayed with us. We waited until they arrived to decorate our tree. It was packed and loud, but a lot of fun to hang out with them. They think a lot of the same ways we do. Like having lots of kids. Jess is pregnant with #4!

Live Nativity

We watched a live nativity at a Protestant church on 15th Ave. on a Sunday night. It was cold, but Bobbins packed some hot chocolate. A few of our friends came over as well. For all the trouble, I think the kids enjoyed seeing the camel especially. Moosy might've been an exception.

Work Christmas Lunch

A couple of the gals I work with upped the ante for our Christmas lunch this year with an ugly sweater contest. We had some real "good" entries. There was even a trophy presented to the winner, which was Joy (brown hair gal sitting on the left, looking at the camera).

Work Xmas Party / Girls' School Production

I signed up for my work Christmas party long before we found out the girls' school Christmas production would be the same night. After a couple days thinking about it, we decided there'd be plenty of school plays in the future, and we had already set up the babysitter to go out. So off to the party we went, while Nana T & Pop took the girls to Redemption Church in Tempe. We had a nice time out, esp. enjoying the food (but wishing the young DJ were better), while the girls did well and had fun in the production.

 

Nana T took some videos but they are fairly nondescript.