The Doerr Family: Christmas Time

WARNING- REALLY LONG AND LOTS OF PICTURES

Merry Christmas from the Doerrs

I really love Christmas Time. Although it can be super busy, I just love spending time with family and friends. It's always so nice to see relatives that you don't get to see throughout the year and spend time talking and catching up with them. This year was extra-special because my uncle Roger was in town from Minnesota. I haven't seen him since Matt and I got married and even then I really didn't get to spend time with him because I was so busy with the wedding. So it's been a number of years since I've actually got together with him but I think we made up for lost time. He was also a hit with the kids. Emily and Jack thought he was great and are still talking about him (he had to leave this past Tuesday after being here for a week).

The last few weeks have flown by. Here are some pictures of the fun times we had this holiday season.

We went to see Santa Clause at the mall again this year. He was a hit with Emily but Jack didn't like him at all. Emily kept trying to hold his hand and tell him, 'it's okay, your sisters here with you.' She told me after that she was trying to take care of him and protect him. It's so sweet when your kids show love to each other.

Grammy and Papa (Matt's parents) came over for dinner (and so Brittany could color my hair) and Grammy made Reindeer ears with the kids. They were really cute and the kids enjoyed doing the project with her. She substitutes in Kindergarten a lot so she has a lot of good ideas like that.

Emily had her holiday performance and party at preschool about a week before Christmas. She was so adorable up there singing her Christmas songs. Her favorite one was Feliz Navidad. All the kids in her class really got in to that one. It was also a special treat that Matt got to be there pretty much the whole time. My mom and sister and Lauren were also there watching her so she had quite an audience. The picture below is Matt in her classroom reading a book to Emily and a bunch of her friends. Those are the moments that are priceless. I do thank God that my kids have such a wonderful daddy.

This is just a picture of my sister's family and my family at church on the Sunday before Christmas. My mom bought the kids their Christmas outfits and they all wore them that morning.

Christmas Eve was spent at my Uncle Ralph and Aunt Carla's house (my dads side). There was about 25 people there, including Carla's family. Since Carla isn't blood related, we only get to see that side once a year. So it's a lot of fun to catch up with them and their lives. We have a traditional Norwegian dinner with lefse and lutfisk (yuck). Luckily, we also have Swedish meatballs and other yummy food.

The kids and a few of the adults

My dad, Amanda, and Uncle Roger

Carla's dad is Jewish and behind the kids he lighted the manor a

Opening presents Christmas morning. Both the kids were a little overwhelmed. They would have been fine getting one present. I think that the whole thing was a just a little too much for them to handle.

What a mess... look at what this house has turned in to!

After we opened presents at home, we went over to my parents for a little bit to open some more presents. Since my uncle was staying with my parents on Christmas Eve, he got to be part of the Christmas morning chaos. From there we headed over to my grandparents house.

At Papa and Gaga Basses house we had a wonderful lunch, opened presents, the kids got to play with their toys and chatted.
This was Jack doing his hohoho face for the camera.

Emily got a makeup kit from Papa and Gaga. She loved it but it got all over her face.

Jack kissing Grandma under the mistletoe.

My aunt Kerrie Sue and cousin Kacy taking the kids and the dog on a walk.

Our final stop on Christmas Day was to the Doerrs house. We did more presents, more food, and more chatting. It was so very nice to see Matt's side of the family. We are so spoiled that we live near both of our parents and get to see them quite frequently. But it's always nice to see the extended family on this special holiday.
My sister in laws and I (and Emily)