My hubby belongs to this absolutely incredible family. A family that welcomed me with open arms from the minute I walked into the door the first time. A family that blesses me in so many ways. Christmas Eve & part of Christmas Day was celebrated up in PA with his family 🙂

What’s even more awesome is that my new awesome family doesn’t stop with Mike, Kim, Kyle, Brenda & Max. When Kyle & Brenda got married, we had the opportunity to meet and spend some much enjoyable time with Brenda’s big hilarious and just all around warm and loving family. So now I get to call the Gimbel family, family. Brenda is from Wisconsin, where her parents still live. Her sisters and their families live out in that area as well – so basically it’s quite a trip to be with them. So this year when Brenda mentioned to them that “someday” she’d be interested in hosting Christmas, her sisters jumped right on it! So what would’ve been a small Christmas at the Stramara’s became a big party! The only way, in my mind, to celebrate a holiday. Big, loud, crazy and surrounded family.

Christmas eve was hosted by my mother-in-law.

She is so very ready to be a grandmother (it’s a good thing Kyle & Brenda have one on the way!), that when she knew there would be 5 kiddos(Brenda’s nieces&nephews) running around, she jumped right onto the crafting/activity planning. Apparently when she went to Toys R’ Us, she was “a man in a foreign country”. So she decided to come back to her homeland of crafts and arts & built this “reindeer feeder” for the kids to decorate. They had a blast!! And I have to be honest, I had a blast taking pictures of them just playing and having fun.

There was screwdrivers & candy canes.

And lots of merriment!

Adler found this train & loved it!

So much dancing!

The Gimbel/Chenoweth/Henderson/Schoeneman Family! <3

Christmas Morning looked very different this year. For the first time ever, there was no running down to the tree dressed in pajamas and opening a ton of gifts. We started the morning getting dressed and relaxing in the living room until leaving for Kyle & Brenda’s for brunch.

Ulla girl!

He’s such a good trooper!

Charlie, Max & Erin. What was supposed to be a quick photo, turned into quite the photoshoot cause Charlie just couldn’t figure out where he wanted to sit. Such a crazy dog!

Belated, I know…but MERRY CHRISTMAS!