Christmas 2013 (picture heavy post ;)

I have to admit that it was nice having family to wake up to and celebrate Christmas Day with.  A lot of the times it's just Joacim, Izzy and I, and although that's great too, it's a bit lonely.

Izzy and Auntie Bri were VERY ready to dive in!

Dad opening his present....it's not a surprise anymore, as it's the same thing every year (chocolate covered cherries).  It's one of his favorites, and it's the gift I always get him....our little tradition.

 Meanwhile, Murphy was feeling very unloved, so he plopped down right in my lap for some love.

And so did Rosie eventually...

I got Bri this glass ornament called a "witches ball"...I think she loved it!

Izzy always gets great gifts from Sweden....this coat is from farmer and farfar

I think this is the only time I've actually seen her surprised to open a gift.  Normally, she's all goosey and shy, but I FINALLY got this look captured!  All it took was a doll from Frozen to create it.

After all of the gift opening and whatnot, it was time to go outside.  Mind you, the temperatures were ridiculously, stupidly cold with a blustery wind, but that didn't stop Izzy and Bri from wanting to go sledding.

The yellow dog is Champ....my family brought him up this time so he could enjoy the holidays too :)

I think this was her first show angel of the season

Izzy's an sneaky, ornery little thing....she kept smashing snowballs into Auntie Bri's head!

And these photos illustrate why I don't sled.  I can't drive the damn thing!

Christmas Eve, Visitors and Meatballs :)

My parents came up to spend the holidays with us, and I was really excited that they were able to come up on Christmas Eve.  I remember being SO excited for Christmas Eve when I was a kid.  We used to go to my Grandparent's house, or maybe my Great Aunt & Great Uncle's house...wherever we were,  I always remember it being fun.  Sometimes, with just the 3 of us up here, it can get a bit lonely, so it's nice to have visitors, especially over the holidays.

We kinda made a little "rule" (well, I made the rule :) that if we're in America, then we're going to celebrate an American Christmas, which means opening presents on Christmas Day, with maybe one special gift to open on Christmas Eve.  So that Joacim didn't miss out TOTALLY on Swedish traditions, we decided to make a mini smorgasbord, including meatballs!

It has been stupid cold.  Seriously.  Just stupid cold.  The ONLY redeeming quality about this cold is the fact that I could literally freeze my balls outside :)

Oh my word...these were sooooooooooo gooooooood.  My mouth is watering just typing and thinking about them.........why can't meatballs be easier to make???

So great to have a family dinner....my dad even had a glass of wine!!!!

Izzy and Bri needed to work off some of their dinner with the Wii....

Here's a pic of our beautiful (first) real tree......

Izzy loves having her Aunti Bri around...I don't think she ever gets this much devoted attention :)

And then, to cap off a perfect Christmas Eve for me, I got to watch White Christmas.  This may have been the 25th time I've seen this, but it NEVER gets old, and I will do my best to make this my tradition forever.

I hope Izzy enjoyed it too