Christmas fun

I would have to say this was the most enjoyable and relaxing Christmas season so far.   I think it's from a combination of picking easy foods for all the parties, more organized packing, and older kids that can handle less sleep and more partying :)   

Here are the girls helping me make my Grandma Nykerk's famous caramels.  We made three batches, which totaled about 4 hrs plus time to stir, cut wax paper, and wrap, but they were well worth it.

This was our "Christmas Eve" at home...

"Christmas" morning before running in to see what Santa brought.

Macey picked out a calculator at school for her dad. 

 She is so proud that he uses it in his classroom now 

for students that forget their graphing calculators.

We took off early Monday morning to Holland to spend the day at my dad's house.  The day consisted of gifts, appetizers, ham, mealballs, shrimp, many sweets from Brenda, and drinking Christmas Eve punch.  

Kelsey got this doll from Gloria Hollenkamp (Keith's mom) and is in love with it.

Remember who was born during this blizzard? :)

Christmas Day, we woke up at Jason's parents' house and celebrated all day in pajamas. We ate great food, opened gifts, and played Head Bandz.

Then we headed out to Holland again for the Nykerk side party at Jim and Rachel's house that night.

The girls enjoy seeing little Charlotte.

We had a taco/salad bar, played Bingo and had a gift auction this year.  Fun times!

We headed back to Colon late Wednesday night and enjoyed the next few days staying in pajamas and slowing unpacking.  We still had a week and a half before anyone had to go back to school so we were all definitely in the relaxed mode for awhile :)  (Besides Jason who still made it to school almost everyday to do some work)