i think caroling is awkward...

but i loved it tonight when my sisters and nieces and nephews surprised us by driving an hour to come hang out with us spontaneously. i love them. but i still think caroling is kind of weird. i just never know what to do while i'm standing at the door listening. and it feels rude not to invite people on your doorstep in. and it is usually cold. still, tonight's surprise carolers will likely be a favorite experience from this christmas time.

another favorite memory was our family christmas last night. all our married lives, we have spent the week before christmas with extended family. so we choose a day before we leave to have our own celebration as a family in our own homes...

this used to always be my gig. but the kids have gotten old enough to take some ownership in the experience and since then, things have gotten pretty interesting (you can read about last year's festivities here.)

this year, my kids got us presents and wrapped them themselves...

jack handed bill a mysterious present and said "good luck with that one." umm yeah, it was a bra of mine. definitely not appropriate, but funny nonetheless...

jack didn't have to receive undergarments. we gave him the football uniform he has been begging for...

someone else swiped it from him...

notice the toddler-containment device jack put on her, though. ya think i could market those for that purpose?

basically, it was a whole lot of fun...

i haven't been motivated for a lot this christmas. but i am always motivated for fun. carolers (who i'm related to) and quirky gift exchanges have put the merry back into christmas for me this year. just in the nick of time...