Christmas.... times 4

We had Christmas four times this year - our house, Matt's house, grandma Bromley's house, and grandma Auman's house. Just in case you're wondering, that means we had three Christmas Eve celebrations, four present-opening sessions, three Christmas dinners, and many many hours of driving back and forth and visiting everyone in the area. I'll be totally honest - it was exhausting. We love having so much family close, but holidays get really really hectic. It's also totally crazy having many of our siblings married - each sibling is trying to split up time between both of their families which means that my family got about 6 hours total with everyone present, and we got about the same with Matt's family when all the siblings and inlaws were there.

This was also the first year we've been able to have our own personal Christmas morning, and I LOVED it. It was so fun to set everything up just the way we wanted it and to watch Owen come down to Christmas presents in his own home.

Anyway, as you can probably imagine, I took tons of pictures. Without further ado, here are the highlights of our Christmas 2011:

Gingerbread house... designed by Owen (can you tell? :)

Sausalito Children's Discovery Museum - we had free passes and my whole family went. We didn't love the exhibits indoors, but the several acres of things to play on outside were fantastic!

Auman sibling gift exchange outside the museum in Sausalito.

Lexie (and baby - wooo!), Ryan, Hilary, and Michael.... customary Auman trip to Ghirardelli. LOVE that place.

Cute Kev, Mad, and Bec.

Owen trying not to be in our picture. :)

Mom and Dad.

Michelle at the Farrell Christmas movie party. Yes, she's awesome. If you don't know her, you SHOULD!

Matt's dad always dresses up as a character from whatever movie we're watching. This year he dressed up as Scrooge... and scared the heck out of Owen. :)

Scrooge with the three Farrell girls and the four current grandkids. Check out Owen's face - he's not happy to be that close to Scrooge!

The Wood Ranch house... this house goes all out with Christmas lights. We drive to see it every year. Kind of ridiculous, huh?

Almost ready for the Farrell Christmas Eve white elephant.

Nativity!

LOVE Owen's face in this one.

Owen loves his cousin Ellie - he's always sitting close to her and making sure she's got a toy or her pacifier or whatever she needs. He's going to be a great big brother.

Practicing a cousin song at grandma Bromley's.

Most of the Bromleys together for Christmas Eve - getting ready for the cousin gift exchange.

Getting costumes on for the nativity.

Matt and Josh hanging out waiting for the nativity.

All the nativity kids!

Cute little angel.

Putting out milk and cookies for Santa!

This is what Santa left for Owen for the next morning. He was SO excited when he saw it.

First view of the Christmas tree. LOVE his face.

So excited about the Toy Story umbrella he asked Santa for.

Checking out all his loot!

At the top of the de Young Museum observation tower in San Francisco - we took a trip there while all my siblings were home.

Our fourth Christmas - opening gifts with grandma and grandpa Auman and aunt Karen.

Three silly cousins - boating at Lake Chabot.

Matt and Michelle.

Yes, I know I take too many pictures of this kid, but seriously, how cute is he?!

Playing "Chopped" with the Farrells - Matt's parents and his brother Jon were the judges and Michelle was the host. Matt and I were a team, Jason and Lindsay were a team, and Sarah and Jenny were a team. Exhausting, but hilariously fun.

The cooks listening to the judges' remarks. No, I don't know what Matt's doing to his face.