If we took a holiday...

...It would be so nice! Hopefully, that Madonna song is now stuck in your head. Well, since it's January 18th, I figured I should probably get around to doing a holiday post sometime soon. The holidays this year were all about spending time with the family we don't get to see on a regular basis.

It all started with Thanksgiving in Tallahassee. Just a quiet day with Mom, Dad, Me and Drew and Toby and Monica (in from Austin) and three beagles. We pretty much just played with the pups, watched football and ate. A much more peaceful Thanksgiving than the "Orphan" Thanksgivings we would throw in San Diego.
I'm not sure where the pictures from this day are, probably on my parents' cameras. But here is a cute one of my bro and sis:

Early December, we took a little family trip to the Havana Christmas Tree Farm. The pups were in new-scent heaven- this might be the only picture with their noses off the ground.

The pictures don't show that it was raining. My feet are sinking into the wet ground here. Sawyer is the only one allowed off the leash because he will come when called.

We needed a small tree this year, for both money and doggie purposes (we put it on a small table away from paws). We found a good one, and Drew sawed it off in about 30 seconds- this was my first time cutting down a fresh tree.

The girls, after we got the tree all decorated.

I never posted the card we actually used. Here it is, Merry Christmas!

Unfortunately, Drew and I got sick about two or three days before Christmas Day, so we missed the Candlelight Christmas Eve service and were still feeling rotten on Christmas. No pictures on my camera from that day.
* * *

Somehow, we still managed to get ourselves on a plane on the 26th to go visit our California family. Must be love. We had the best airport welcome, ever!

For our West coast family Christmas, we went to Clovis and the boys played in the annual Extreme Croquet tournament

The winner this year was Sammy. He is very proud of the new Chevron with his name on it

Elizabeth, with her cheerleading plaque

This year, we did something special for Drew's Grandma (pictured). We all contributed an object the represented a memory with her to a bowl of blessings. Here, Jane is reading her message to her Mom, and Grandma is modeling the cape Jane made for her!

I think we're trying not to cry.

The rest of the week was spent playing with Drew's cousins (and Nate)

We went to see Avatar in 3D. Fun experience,

but I'll let someone else comment on the movie itself- I'm too picky, I guess.We took a family trip to the Clay Cafe to paint

We each did a tile that will get fired (the colors will get much deeper) and will be put into a mural to mark our 09 Christmas together

On New Year's Eve, Curt and Jane took us all out for a fancy dinner at The Vintage Press

Then, we dressed down and headed over to Leah's boyfriends house for a bonfire

We are a "special" family in all senses of the word

Happy New Year! I have a feeling it's going to be a great one!