Christmas Times 2011

George, Grandma and Stella enjoy some quality time

SCENES FROM A HATTON CHRISTMAS 2011

Steph working on her family's famous apple pie!

Annie.... happy to be in Wisconsin with the family

Chris recovering from his mishap with china

Mark demonstrating the new bottle opener

It's AMAZING!

Steph showing Mark how the Apple pie is placed in a brown paper bag

Sealed with Saples

And baked in the oven

While the pie was baking the lights went on the tree

 

Annie and the girls supervised the lights going on the tree

 

It was my year to put the angel on the tree

And I did a GREAT JOB!

And then it was time to put the ornaments on the tree

 

It goes so much faster with a crowd!

Chris went a little nuts with the decorating, and decorated the fire place rocks

And then there was pie!

Of course I went a little crazy with the decorating too and created this  centerpiece

One of the many cute puppy pictures (sorry you don't get to see them all... in fact currently Gwennie is lying on Shotzie's head, and I am refraining from taking a picture, although they are adorable!)

 

Out of order... but here are pictures of us going to the sincere tree farm to get out Christmas Tree

Gwennie especially enjoyed the tree cutting, and watched Mark closely as he cut the tree down

Stella is an old hand at the cutting down of the tree

This is our future tree

Chris and Steph arrived first and enjoyed some of Mark's (really Paula's) award winning Chicken Chili

Annie arrived next, and Stella was very happy to see her!

Sandhill Crane created by Gary Gast, Mark's nurses husband
It will reside by the side of the Lake

Annie admiring our new kitchen

Chris and Steph wrapping presents in our Special Wrapping Room

Another picture of that pie!

We saw Mark doing quite a bit of cooking during the festivities

The Hanging of the stockings

Chris and Steph making Spritz

Turns out Steph is a big fan of orange bling

It wouldn't be Christmas without Burt and Ernie on the tree

Lap time with Grandma, Becca, Patrick and Gwennie... sorry Stella, it's not your turn!

But we will make room for George!

Grandpa gets a turn showing the thumb piano

Georgie!

Tree sure turned out pretty!

So THIS IS CHRISTMAS!!!!!

George opening the Hammer of Thor from Uncle Chris

Not sure if he or Mike liked it better

Patrick received a Captain America Shield from Uncle Chris

Meg was awestruck by the gifts of weapons

Mark showing his stain glass

Becca sitting on a gift... because she could!

Opening presents is fun!

Mike models training gear

Becca models bubble wrap

Getting ready for the wrapping paper war

Steph modeling her BackPack

And I model the 100 ways to wear it wrap I received from Steph!

Opening Stockings

George was delighted with the click clack toys

Later he tried his hand (left hand!) at coloring

Meanwhile the rest of us vegged out

Chris found a spot on the floor to read

Steph and Becca found a chair and Waldo!

And the dogs enjoyed lively conversation

Mark modeled his Milwaukee T-Shirt

Mashing potatoes was a family event!

Gwennie and Shotzie were pooped Pooches!

 

Vote for which picture you think is the cutest! I couldn't decide.

Enjoying Christmas goodies

Mike and his crew all dressed up on Christmas morning

I was dressed up too!

Mark and I posed in front of the tree

Being creative with glitter, pompoms and such

George needed to get his hands de-colored!

Becca decided Stella was lonely and needed company when she went to hang out in her kennel

Mike took the kids for a ride!

Becca is a good Big Sister

Lydia and Jean Dodge came for lunch on Monday

And so did Tom

Tom modeling his new Biking Jacket

 

If you need a good reader give me a call

I got lots of practice

Merry Christmas to Everyone!