Family = Laughter

It was so nice to be with my family. Despite the fact that one sister was enduring chemo treatments and the other was recovering from some abdominal surgery, we enjoyed a lot of laughs. (Well, maybe Erin didn't enjoy it so much since it was painful for her to laugh.)

Amelia and Elsa pose with cousin James in their Christmas outfits courtesy of Grandma.

We were all set to take them to church but because of a bad snowstorm and temperatures well below zero, they canceled church that day. We enjoyed our own Christmas program at home, complete with stories and musical numbers and choral readings. It was especially nice to hear my parents sing a duet together.


Stephanie tried to use her hair loss to our advantage...telling Amelia that she lost her hair because she didn't eat her vegetables. Every time Amelia would pass by Steph, Amelia would casually slip the phrase "and I still have my hair" into her chattering.


Amelia performs with Grandma...any chance to take center stage.


Traditionally, we bake our own gingerbread and assemble a huge house. But we had just finished making five different types of Christmas cookies (including gingerbread men) so we went for the pre-assembled house. Amelia was in her element arranging candy by color and shape.


Elsa and James were excellent playmates and Elsa enjoyed the freedom of a large living room to roll around in. She doesn't make it far in our house without rolling onto the hardwood floors or getting stuck under furniture.