Wisdom Teeth

Scott got four wisdom teeth pulled the last week of the winter break. His friends Bekah and Morgan came to visit a couple of days and brought him some soft food and a movie to cheer him up. While they were there, Scott and Morgan played superhero with Ethan in the capes they had given each other as birthday/Christmas gifts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Tuesday night, December 23rd we set out to find Santa and let him know what Rachel and Ethan wanted for Christmas. Our hope was to find him at Opportunity Village, so we bravely packed our heavy coats and mittens and drove there with smiles on our excited faces. As we neared the parking lot our eyes grew a little larger and faces fell. Dad kept on driving as Rachel pointed out that there was one parking space at the end of the lot. "Let's go to the mall!," he exclaimed. So off we drove to the Meadows Mall with glee in hopes to find St. Nick. As we neared the parking lot our eyes grew a little larger and our faces fell, but happily Dad dropped us off at the door and went to park at the end of the lot. Rachel, Ethan and I saw Santa greeting the children all dressed up and cheerfully got in line! Rachel and Ethan would finally sit on Santa's lap and tell him what their greatest desires were. We stood there for a few minutes until one of the elves said, "I'm sorry, but you will have to move to the "maybe" line. You are in the "guaranteed" line and Santa leaves at 9:00. Mind you it was only 7:30 and I was not going to stand in line for another hour and half. In the car we sadly went feeling disappointed and crushed. "Will we ever see Santa" was our cry. Yes, was the answer. Tomorrow, Tomorrow right when it opens! So, out of the lot we dashed wanting a good cup of cocoa. "But wait!," said Dad. "Look, there are pretty lights! There's bound to be a Santa at the Springs Preserve!" So onward we flew in search of Santa. We put on the heavy coats and mittens and bravely found Santa after patiently waiting in a line of three children. Yes, three! We were full of glee!

May all of you have a very Merry Christmas (whether you see Santa or not.) Love, The Albrights

Christmas Eve some of us went Ice Skating, and then we spent the evening playing games with family. Then we watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas and The Nativity.

Christmas morning the kids woke up at 4:00 and then woke us up at 6:30.

Everyone's favorite gift this year was the marshmallow blasters that Santa left that we've been having wars with ever since.

Extended Family Holiday Celebration

Grandma and Grandpa Big V have decided they have gotten too old and their family has gotten too big to host Christmas Eve Dinners anymore. So instead they hosted their whole clan at a dinner at their church a few nights before Christmas.

Two of the family talents.

Chowing down.

The red sweater crew.

The newlyweds.

The newlyweds' parents: still newlyweds themselves.

Doug and Megan absent their married children. When our children get married, they'll be forbidden from spending holidays with in-laws. Ha ha.

The Bookends: Grandma and Grandpa's youngest grandchild (not counting greats), Ethan, and oldest grandchild, Nicole.

Freshly done with college.

Ashley and Rico and one of the cutest baby girls on the planet.

The big eaters.

The other big eaters.

Last Christmas we'll see this couple for another four years. So sad but also so exciting.

Jen and Aaron still live here, even though her parents have moved away. Hey, the same thing happened to us!

Performances:

Our Nativity