Christmas 2015

Probably the smoothest Christmas we've had since having 11 grandkids
in my parents' house, all negotiating for food and space for 2 weeks...
Still constant and busy, but no naps, and much more of kids
making their own fun. In the cold. Wet. Winter.
But Oregon graced us with 2 days of snow,
so that's always a bonus when we're sacrificing some of our summer!! ;)

On the flight we do anything to make them comfortable enough to watch the movies...
The tissue pack trick is an old favourite. :)


At least Mom and Dad still stand with us all around them.
There will come a day when they will choose to sit
and then we know it's all downhill from there!!

Bunch of ragamuffins on Christmas Day. 

Most of us don't like to get out of our pajamas...

Adults night out. Enough said.

Extended fam - also known as the great grandkids, 

or as our kids call them, the camping cousins!

23 at the last count I think.

I love the stage when helping is fun and novel for them.

Which is also the stage where helping is not much help, 

but it's just so cute. But don't be fooled, 

with every ounce of her being she is serious about helping!

There always comes a time when we have to say goodbye...

Our 5-hr layover to catch our international flight 

disappeared in flight delays and a medical emergency stop 

for someone on the plane, so we were stuck in LA for 2 days. 

We weren't up for Disneyland, but Legoland seemed doable - 

 U.S. kids had gone back to school, 

and the LA winter is hardly winter, so it was beautiful. 

And super fun to do it without having planned to, 

making a frustrating situation so much more fun!

This is wallpaper, but it looks so 3D!