Merry Christmas from the Shurtleff House!!!
We had a White Christmas for the first time since 1926! and NO I was not around then, even though my kids think I am pretty old. To my knowledge, I have never had a white Christmas, so this was a first, and we had a great time playing in the snow this morning.
Gabriel made many snowballs to throw at me and his siblings. Elena did not want to wear gloves, but she cried when her hands got cold. Hannah and Graham came outside for about 5 minutes before returning to the warm house for a little more Mario Cart fun. We tried to balance the gifts between media fun(Wii game and a few new vidios) and outdoor activities(a new basket ball goal for the culdesac out front and new street hockey goals)
On Christmas Eve the family attended the usual Christmas pagent at the First United Methodist with Mimi, then on to the service at our church where Clara, Gabriel, and Paul sang with the kids choir. A new twist on the evening was dinner out at AMIGO'S in Richardson. if you haven't tried them out, the food is excellent, and the prices are very reasonable.
After dinner and bedtime for the littles, there was a small amount of last minute wrapping and preparing(no trampolines to assemble this year-Haleluia!) off to bed by midnight-WOW
Christmas morning included the traditional Cranberry Holiday Cake-Yummy, poptarts, and candy from the stockings(gummy worms, yogurt covered pretzels, and jelly belly beans) I think I have a stomach ache just writing about it. the candy, NOT the yummy cake.
Present opening was followed by SnowPlay, Wii Play, a feast of Ham, potatoes, and veggies, a walk at Breckenridge Park, naps, and more play time. all in all, it was a Great Christmas Day. 
We talked on the phone to the missing family members--Alex in CA, Jessica and Roy snowed in in Vernon, TX and Grandparents in Missouri. we love to sing "we wish you a merry Christmas" on the phone ;) we had a blessed day, hope yours was the same.
