Christmas Day at our home

This year, we had both our families (those that are in California) over to our home to celebrate Christmas. It was the nicest day!

I hope everyone had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS surrounded by your loved ones, remembering the true meaning of CHRISTmas.... enjoying some good food and yummy drinks together... singing Christmas songs... We are so thankful for our friends and families and all the happiness they bring into our lives. Not to mention the fun. :)

My sassy sister in law, Eliza
Nevaeh is just gorgeous. Could she be any cuter? This is her new Dino, Spike.
Speaking of cute... look at how big and adorable Eden has gotten!
ROAAAAAAAAR!
Santa's little helper
Dan led us all in song as we did the very fun "Twelve Days of Christmas" with our cue cards
It was really so much fun!
What a gorgeous family! My little brother Ivan, his wife Eliza, with Nevaeh and Eden
My man, DANta Claus! Did DANta Claus leave all these presents under the tree?

Nevaeh was so excited. She helped EVERYONE open their presents
Cutest present!

The Halladas and Oberons ( missing Leslie, Laura and Fam and Ervin and Allie)
Oh yeah, the cats LOVED Christmas. Always something new to play with or climb into.
Miko and Koko kept taking turns getting into this last box.
Every time we looked, one or the other was in that box
NO more pictures, please! Merry Christmas everyone! Do we REALLY have to take the tree down now? Ohhhhhh, but it smells so good!

Our first Christmas Tree!

So it happened. For those of you that know, I've NEVER put up a Christmas tree my whole life on my own. (We had the artificial kind when I lived at home). Dan started taking me to the pumpkin patch for Halloween a few years ago and I loved it. This year, he took me to the Christmas Tree yard and we picked out our first tree together. It was fun and it was sweet...
The cats loved it. Like the love anything that is "new." I have been worried all along that they would climb it, knock it over, destroy it, whatever. But they just got under it, drank the water, and boxed the ornaments a bit. Otherwise they left it alone!
She hates me right now.
On DEC 13th we had the annual HaasHalladeIlmaNewmanBohm Family Christmas party at Amanda and Brian's home. It was SO much fun... (the families that have made this Xmas party a yearly tradition since Dan was a child)
The men belt out some Christmas songs...
Then the women... (I tried to fade into the backgroun... nobody needs to hear my singing voice, really)
It was so much fun and we enjoy every single person in these families so much. They are the "families" we chose for ourselves...
Brendon Newman, John Heilman and Dan the man
John was going around "aligning people's shakras." He's hilarious...
Another shakra-aligning technique...
Ashley and Brian singing the "Twelve Days of Christmas"
The whole group singing the "Twelve Days of Christmas"
The end of the night. I mean, the END. I do not remember this well. Amanda, I'm sorry if I was smothering you right here. What am I doing? Don't tell me...

Heather Heilman and I enjoy some tunes from Dano by the fire
Our hosts: Brian and Amanda Haas.

Some may still be too much...

If you are ever in Thailand and need a tour...



Although I think even SOME might be... too much