Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime

If posting is about life, then having life get in the way of posting is acceptable, isn't it? We've been having so much fun this past week, getting ready for and enjoying Christmas. Now we seem to wander through the kitchen a little more often, stealing more fudge or a cookie or a handful of our special Christmas cereals; We have watched our new movies; we have spent time with friends and family. Today we're taking down Christmas in preparation for Kathryn's birthday tomorrow. She will be ELEVEN!

Here though is a more complete recap:

We made candy ~ a Freeman Family tradition!

Kurt's mom remembered to take a picture of those
of us who are taller than 5'0"

Santa got a new helper

We made cookies.
Hey Krista can I trade you a tree for a snowflake??

We opened Freeman name gifts. Emily got lucky!!

Nathan was caught developing a plot to take over the world

Thankfully he was convinced to give up the plot and come play trucks

We made graham cracker houses....Liz's turned into a porta-potty

When Melissa was asked whether she'd rather have a never ending VAT of ketchup or her birthday every day, she chose ketchup. Thankfully, Santa paid attention.

In fact, Santa was pretty generous this year

Emily got some one-on-one time with Grandma Karolyn

Grandma and Grandpa hosted a sleepover for all of those munchkins.

Somehow they convinced her to let them stay a second night.

Here's Liz, literally with an "L" on her forehead!!

Somehow all of the happy got sucked out of this picture..

Oh good ~ more presents

That brought some of Nathan's happy back. Though that look in his

eyes says that there are some new plans for taking over the world...

Happy 2009!!