Our "Plan B" Christmas

While we missed being with everyone in Ohio, we were also thankful to be able to celebrate with fun people here.

Christmas Eve was spent at Nonna and Poppa's house, with special guest, Mor-Mor....

After opening gifts, and a delightful brunch (and before a fantastic cranberry-chicken dinner), we went for a walk, did some building with Kapla blocks, listened to a "children's sermon," played Bridge, and sang some Christmas carols.

It was a very happy day!

Then, the next morning, Christmas morning...

We had a nice, peaceful time at home during which we read the Christmas story, had homemade cinnamon buns, and played with the kids' new gifts!

The highlights of the kids' gifts this year included GIANT trucks, a tea set, some science experiments and books (all from Nonna and Poppa), and a bag of rubber bands, and a metal tray (from Pete and me).  (Not really -- but the first 2 gifts the kids opened on Christmas morning basically looked like a metal tray and rubber bands- - and both recipients were VERY excited anyway!  We are raising very cheap dates.)

Our actual gifts to them were Guitar Hero (Strider), rollerblades (Rayna), and a straw building set (Colsen and Milo).

In the afternoon we headed up to the Drescher's for more rounds of Bridge and more playing of new Christmas gifts!

We also had yet another amazing meal, courtesy of Karin.

The meal ended, not only with some tasty Christmas cookies, but also with great amounts of screaming and squealing as everyone realized it was SNOWING outside!  The first White Christmas in Charlotte in over 60 years!

Plan B Christmas turned out to be very lovely.