The week following that, it seems like everyone in the house got sick and the sickness lingered through x-mas. I ended up being more busy with work due to some required learning and extra computer classes the week of Christmas!! I had also gotten the flu the Tuesday before x-mas and missed Tom and Joe's Christmas concert :( Thank goodness for video cameras! This year, I didn't get to wrapping any gifts until x-mas eve morning!! If you know me well, I usually try and get all this done ahead of time.
Christmas Eve we went to my parents house where it is always a fun time with 7 grandkids opening presents at the same time. This year was actually a lot better, the older kids listened and attempted to wait their turn to open a gift.
Christmas Day, Joe was the first one up and it was so cute to hear his giddy voice out in the living room checking out the presents Santa had left. When all the boys were awake, they got to open a few of their presents before going to mass. The rest we opened when we got back home. For dinner, we headed to Brian's parents house for Christmas dinner and more presents. It was extra fun this year, because Brian's dad handed out copies of the song "On the 12th Day of Christmas" each person in attendance had their own number and had to sing it out when it was their turn. To make things even more funny, Brian's dad gave the # "5 Golden Rings" to his 80 some year old sister. It was too cute to hear her sing that verse over and over.
Well, that sums up Christmas. I will be eventually posting our trip adventures to California. We had a Blast!
Picking out our tree from Big John's Christmas Tree Lot...a tradition we do every year!
It was super cold that night, but even lamby beared the cold to help find the perfect tree.
Joe helping place the x-mas bulbs up high.
Batman Tom helping out with the decorations as well.
Joe and Peter putting their ornaments on the tree.
Brian and the boys visiting Santa at the Golden Valley Country Club.
This is Tom being clever one day. He decided to wear his columbia fleece jacket and then wear another columbia fleece jacket on his legs to make himself look like on of Santa's elf's....Pretty Smart!
After the rest of the gang saw what Tom was doing, they all wanted in...So here they are along with my nephew, Braden, singing Christmas carols.
Joe and Tom-Best Buddies
Peter and Amazing Snow Globe....he loves the song "Silver and Bells"
Joe, Peter, Tom
Tom and Joe kiss Peter......Peter looks paralyzed by his brothers' love.
Joe decorating sugar cookies.
Tom helping roll out the dough....and yes, he is wearing Brian's old Falto bell cover as a chef's hat!
Peter deciding which sprinkles to use.
My cute little niece Hailey.
Sharing some cousin loves....Peter (Dec.), Brett (May), and Elena (March) are all 3 months apart.
Almost all 7 of them looking at the camera.
My parents with the grandkids.
Our attempt at a family photo.
Joe on Christmas morning...looking at the stuff in his stocking.
Tom excited about his new recycling boxers!!
Peter investigating his new crane from Santa.
Brian's homemade dessert.....He is an AMAZING MAN!
Brian's aunt and the rest of the family singing on the "12th day of Christmas."
Brian's parents leading the group.
Our pretty Christmas tree and all 1300+ lights. This year, I made sure to have enough electrical cords so I wouldn't have any power outages...HA! Success!
Picking out our tree from Big John's Christmas Tree Lot...a tradition we do every year!
It was super cold that night, but even lamby beared the cold to help find the perfect tree.
Joe helping place the x-mas bulbs up high.
Batman Tom helping out with the decorations as well.
Joe and Peter putting their ornaments on the tree.
Brian and the boys visiting Santa at the Golden Valley Country Club.
This is Tom being clever one day. He decided to wear his columbia fleece jacket and then wear another columbia fleece jacket on his legs to make himself look like on of Santa's elf's....Pretty Smart!
After the rest of the gang saw what Tom was doing, they all wanted in...So here they are along with my nephew, Braden, singing Christmas carols.
Joe and Tom-Best Buddies
Peter and Amazing Snow Globe....he loves the song "Silver and Bells"
Joe, Peter, Tom
Tom and Joe kiss Peter......Peter looks paralyzed by his brothers' love.
Joe decorating sugar cookies.
Tom helping roll out the dough....and yes, he is wearing Brian's old Falto bell cover as a chef's hat!
Peter deciding which sprinkles to use. 
My cute little niece Hailey.
Sharing some cousin loves....Peter (Dec.), Brett (May), and Elena (March) are all 3 months apart.
Almost all 7 of them looking at the camera.
My parents with the grandkids.
Our attempt at a family photo.
Joe on Christmas morning...looking at the stuff in his stocking.
Tom excited about his new recycling boxers!!
Peter investigating his new crane from Santa.
Brian's homemade dessert.....He is an AMAZING MAN!
Brian's aunt and the rest of the family singing on the "12th day of Christmas."
Brian's parents leading the group.
Our pretty Christmas tree and all 1300+ lights. This year, I made sure to have enough electrical cords so I wouldn't have any power outages...HA! Success! 
