Christmas 2012, Pt 1: Bear Claws

This was our year to spend Christmas day with the vanOrman family.  A few days before Christmas, we repeated what we did for Christmas two years ago and drove up to Starved Rock to spend a few days together in a cabin.  It's affectionately been renamed "Bear Claws" by our family. On the way up, we picked up Seth, Bug, and the girls who had traveled out from Vermont on Amtrak.

We like that we can all sleep under the same roof (whereas we're split between the two farm houses, 7 miles apart at home).  While Dad and Nathan were in Albania, Mom and I made up several meals ahead to save cooking time.  By the way, on a completely different note, you will see the all-out butchering job I did on Reni's hair in attempt to be frugal.  Um, I think we'll go back to the $10 cut at Great Clips for a while longer.

You need to eat well to make up for all the calories consumed at the indoor water park, the perfect activity for our family at this stage of life.

We also had fun "grandma time" making cookies.  Warning:  do NOT try Ghiradelli's Chocolate Shortbread cookie mix if you're trying to stick to any new year's resolutions.

 (Above) Look who snuck a drink of Daddy's Sierra Mist when he wasn't looking?  This boy has a serious soft drink craving! (It's all "Diet Cote" to him!)
(Below) My sister tries to eat vegan at home to be healthy so my nieces pig out (pardon the pun) on sausage and bacon when they're with their Gigi and Gjyshe!

We celebrated Pippa's birthday one evening!  (Yes, my nieces are all about the pink).

That, my friends, is what may happen if Ellie and Reni are in the vicinity of your child's birthday candles.  Don't worry, they were scolded.

Candles, Take 2.

Story about the birthday cake.  Apparently my taste in cake doesn't jive with what kids eat.  I mean, why wouldn't a vanilla bean cake with cranberry filling and lemon, cream-cheese icing be eaten enthusiastically?  Nathan told me it was more fitting for a wedding cake.  I say they missed out on something special.

All the swimming, playing, partying, etc. was too much for Reni.  He didn't even finish his pizza and fell asleep right on the hard, wooden chair!

And refused to be roused!  Even though it wasn't even 6PM!