Merry Christmas!

One of the big winners - a duck whistle from the stocking

Mel in one of her 1,876 outfits from the day - riding her new bike, in her new boots, with Joey's new Cookie Monster as a passenger.

Unwrapping all of the dress-up clothes from Gma & Papa Worzala - new shoes!  Joey is thrilled, of course.

Joey negotiating with Daddy and Papa to please put together ONE MORE THING - his new bike from Gigi and Poppy!

The girls on a picnic

Gigi reading Joey his new book.  The dog barks along with the story.  At least when anyone but I reads it.

Mel passed out in the middle of the festivities

A close-up; I had to include both - one to show the context, one zoomed in on how "out" she was.  This continued through dinner

Getting ready to head to the hospital after dinner - you can't see them well, but we're all wearing matching scarves - Julie's is gray, mine black, Mom's white - that "Mom" got us for Christmas.

All the girls.  

Grandma playing with her elves and her new toy

Christmas day was spent at our house, which was very nice.  We started the day, just the four of us, by opening Santa's gifts.  According to Melanie, EVERY gift was from Santa.  Throughout the day, whenever she saw the big guy on TV, she would thank him.  She was a very grateful little girl this year, thanking people even as she was opening the gifts before she knew what they were.  When asked what her favorite gift was, she said "All of them."  (This was shortly before she announced she was ready for more gifts).  As for Joey, he would frequently disappear from the present-unwrapping.  Places I found him included the toy room (playing with "old" toys), and on the stairs, with his head buried in his hands, crying.  Well, maybe next year!

After we got the chaos of Christmas morning cleaned up, Gma and Papa Worzala got to the house.   Round Two of present chaos!  Needless to say, apparently our kids made their "good list" this year!

Once we got that cleaned up, it was time for Round Three - Julie, Molly, and Gigi arrived!

We all had dinner that was delivered via Heavenly Ham, served on paper plates.  My friends Erika Brown, Laura & Ali Mullen, and Amy Norrod pitched in and literally sent us our Christmas dinner!  It was fabulous, and required no one to cook with everything else going on with Dad.  I have great friends!

Despite the noticeable absence on Christmas Day, we had a truly blessed holiday.  God is good, and Christmas was a great time to reflect on that.  We enjoyed the weekend with all of our family!