Merry Christmas Everyone

While things are still a little bit slower and quieter I thought that I would take a moment to wish you all a Merry Christmas from our house to yours. It was such a great Christmas this year full of the traditions that we have created for our little family. We made it a priority to spend quality time together this year as a family instead of getting swept up in all of the hussle. We visited Great Grandma Dorothy at Hunter's Pointe and then Papa Ross at Big Sky Care Center. Then we were off to enjoy Christmas Eve with the Butler's for the Grandma Sue's birthday and the "SHRIMP FEAST"!! The kids look forward to this all year long and is talked about often in the Tode house. We planned on looking at the Christmas lights afterwards, but decided to come home and relax! Christmas morning is always fun with the kids, but I think this was one of the best yet. They really enjoyed everything the received and still remembered the "reason for the season". We as a family decided that this year we would bless other families and that we would not go overboard with the presents. The kids really got into the spirit by giving to the Christmas Shoeboxes, the Salvation Army bell ringers, the Food Bank, and Toys for Tots. Grandma Joyce and Papa Bruce came over Christmas morning for breakfast (usually our favorite breakfast casserole and pumpkin scones with maple butter, Mmm!!!). We spent the afternoon with the kids opening their packages, building with Legos, and checking out all of the new clothes that Adalynn got for Rosie. It was nice to have a slower pace since we all were still groggy from our shrimp hangovers! We had the rest of the Tode's over for Christmas dinner followed by our gift exchange. And finally into bed we fell............ all to resume again today by reliving all of the excitement with the kids :) We hope all of our family and friends shared a blessed Christmas with all of their loved ones close by. The Todes