now that the family was home from their ski trip….the family gatherings had to begin!
craig's mom's: 
the traditional fondue that happens every year.
my niece morgan reading the christmas story in the bible.
sean got a remote control helicopter and it was the hit of all the toys.
and then it got stuck in talby's hair.
the duerksen grandkids…all grown up.
seriously.
craig's dad's:
there was smoked brisket and creamed corn.
sean shouted "WHERE did you get this corn?!"
he loved it so much he had to find out where it was made.
i told him and he didn't believe me that it didn't grow that way.
it was good.
daphne got to come out of her kennel at the end for annie to love on her.
daddies make the best jungle gyms.
the winter storms started in as we drove home from here.
and it continued all night.
craig's sister and her family ended up staying with us that night.
craig picked up his cousin at airport.
the rest of his family driving from california was stuck in traffic from the weather.
it took them hours longer than usual.
we went to church.
my kids were NOT well behaved.
oh well….this will pass.
this arrived in our mailbox on christmas eve:
a german magazine called Kid's Life used my pictures for their article on decorating with kids at home.
i didn't know they were going to use the picture of my neighbor baby London.
what a nice christmas present!
there were two other full page pictures also. SO COOL!
and aunt peg was visiting…she speaks german…so she translated! awesome.
thanks Kid's Life!
our kids opened their christmas jammies and a super soft blanket…just for them.
everyone loves new pj's.
christmas morning:
nice jammies….
sean got a stereo and some classic rock CD's – van halen & pearl jam.
the stereo has a remote….score!
scott opened his gift and said "a football….thanks!" trying to sound as excited as possible.
i said "you're welcome…there is something else in that box"
he found the iPod box and asked "this isn't really what it is…is it?!"
he was shocked.
that was fun to see.
and he gave me a big big hug…. i loved that.
after we opened gifts and ate our christmas breakfast and had another cup of coffee,
we started to get ready to go to my parents.
we were packing our bags when they called and said they were snowed in.
change of plans.
not going to my parents.
we had snow and wind but they had LOTS of snow and wind and ICE.
we relaxed a bit and then headed back to craig's moms for lunch instead.
ALL the family had arrived now.
it was a FULL house.
then we decided to have the christmas dinner that we would have missed…at our house.
so we drove back home and i cleaned up for an hour.
craig shoveled snow.
then everyone in craig's family came here. it was great!
nice to have everyone being flexible with plans changing.
they brought all the food.
i provided the cosmopolitans.
and cookies.
baby stella was our entertainment all weekend.
then we played several rounds of The Name Game.
do you play that game at your house?
Snot Dork-sen was the most original name…along side Mr. Noogie Nugget.
silly boys.
when i went to put the kids to bed everyone cleaned up my kitchen!
truly the best way to throw a party…they bring all the food AND they clean it all up!
ha!
Dana D @BoysMyJoys - How cool is that, to have your photos published AGAIN!!! Please show us the other pages, too!!!
That is SO exciting!!!
Sarah @ Clover Lane - Your home looks so warm and cozy and welcoming and fun. Love the magazine picture…famous again!
alyssa - Pearl Jam is not classic rock?!?! I’m getting old…
Melanie - Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas. I love the story about the IPod. Don’t you love it when the kids get something that they aren’t expecting. Last year we gave Caden a laptop and he had no idea. Love the look on his face!
Diana - Wowwwwwwwww, lotsa fun doin’s, lotsa family togetherness — and all that food looks oh-so-yummy!!
Where did they get Sean’s remote control helicoptor? Hope Talby didn’t have to lose any hair getting it out!
mel - Love reading about how other families celebrate Christmas! Looked like you guys had a wonderful Christmas (with LOTS of celebrations, like us!)
And, congrats on the Kids Life magazine article! You Rock!
Heather Giustino - Looks like you guys had such a great time!! That is too cool about the magazine, and I love the daddy jungle gym pictures – so sweet!
Courtney Walsh - Oooh, I love your movie collection and I spotted some mint brownies in one of those pictures!! My favorite! 🙂 mmmm. Looks like it was a great Cmas! We had tons of snow too… but it was so beautiful it was hard to mind!!
Merry, Merry! 🙂
Jess - sounds like a wonderful time. lovin’ the recaps, keep ’em coming!
Dana Banana - Love your Christmas card photos…have some GOOD LOOKING families as friends. ha Feels like we were right there with you during your Christmas celebrations. Call me if you are in the boro during a Saturday Jam practice.
jeanne - That is my kind of party too! Loved all the photos and so happy for you that you were in the magazine…and how amazing to have an interpreter:-)
Cate O'Malley - love that kind of party! love that star garland hanging against the blinds.
Shannon - We had a great visit — thanks for letting us “share” your Christmas morning with you. You need to send me the picture of Todd and I from the wedding in my email when you get a chance — I want to use it as my new profile pic on FB 🙂 Also, send me the Cranberry Vodka receipe -it was sooo yummy! Tell Annie that her webkins will be coming soon. Happy New Year!
purejoy - whoo hoo on the magazine. so cool!! love the dishes. too fun. (coveting… must. stop. now.) would love to hear more about the star garland over your kitchen table.
and of course, the name game. sounds fun. merry christmas!
Georgia - Looks like an amazing day! you all look so close knit. I hope you got some nice presents from Santa Meg!!!
Geo x
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - You really captured the day Meg. All that food and the family all together…wonderful. My youngest got an American Girl doll and hugged me a solid 2 minutes before letting go. I was sitting close to a mirror and I saw her wipe her eyes. Seriously that was the best Christmas gift to me ever!!
DreamGirlLisa - oops I forgot, congrats on the magazine! That is fantastic, and especially lucky that you had family there that could translate. I still buy Christmas PJ’s for my girls too, even though they are 14 & 18 now, but they love it and would be disappointed if I didn’t. It’s tradition that they open them on Christmas Eve so they can wear them that night. Sweet memories!
DreamGirlLisa - Loved hearing about your Christmas adventure! My family is small, I would love it if there were more of us, I love big family gatherings. Thanks so much for sharing a little part of your life.
P.S. is that the Where the Wild Things DVD??? I LOVED that movie, so now I’m excited that it may be out on video already…
misty - what a great christmas!!! I love the pics and looking at all of the food made me hungry! Congrats on the magazine- that is so cool. We still haven’t had our Christmas with family yet- we are around Tulsa Ok and out in the country- we have been home since wed 12/23 because the sleet started in our area around noon on the 24th so we never made it to okc- thank goodness b/c they closed the turnpike and the highways- we would have been stuck on the highway~ instead we’ve been stuck in the house- thank goodness for Sams and buying in bulk!! We ended up getting more snow last night- and there is a chance for a tiny bit more tonight- hopefully the county comes out tomorrow and at least puts some sand on the roads! I have made a list of all of the crafts I want to make and can not wait to get to hobby lobby to get everything~
emily - congrats on kids life:)
i spy pictures of the airplane game… that was my favorite when i was little.
also, there is nothing better than new christmas pjs, love it! & we got Up too:) what a great movie.
looks like christmas was lots of fun for your family.
Megan - I feel like I have a connection with you…1 because my name is Meg too and also because it looks like santa didn’t bring real American Girl dolls for xmas. Santa brought the Walmart version Madame Alexander to us and she is just as beautiful as the AG dolls. My Claire just loves her.
It looks like you had a wonderful holiday with your family. I loved seeing your little one in the air on your husband’s feet. My husband does that with Claire and she says she is a cheerleader, she is 5 and she says she will be a cheerleader for the Cyclones! Not my first choice because we are really from Cornhusker land but this will do.
I have loved following your blog, I have been doing it for some time now and finally starting blogging myself. I love your house and your little office nook with the kids artwork. I could go on and on but I don’t want you to think I am a stalker…lol. I can’t wait to see more of your life and family. I hope you can follow me sometime.
P.S. I love your necklace from the Vintage Pearl, my sister got one after she had her baby and I have another friend that got one after her twins were born. I actually love that you have you and your husbands names, I might have to copy you. All done typing I promise (for now)
Meg
Debra - Thanks for sharing a lovely Christmas! I so love all your bright colours and especially your polka dot dishes!
Dianne Avery - Congrats on the magazine, that’s awesome!!
Krista - Love your Christmas recaps, thank you for sharing. Love those red dishes with the tree in the middle, where are they from? Awesome jammies, love all the family pics.
Happy New Year to you!
Jules - Looks lovely…all warm and cosy and happy and sparkly! Happened across your blog one day and I must tell you how much I LOVE it! Happy New Year to you and your family!
Dina - I want to know about the Name Game too!!! What a blast!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MGF - The Name Game, I wanna hear how to play.
Looks like a day filled with laughter and love.
the wild raspberry - what a great xmas…
we watched night at the museum last night…hank was HILARIOUS!
have a happy new year.