Christmas 2010: The Good, The Bad and The Chaos!

Christmas was fun and chaotic. That sums it up. Props to my parents for hosting five of the six kids and our families. Seriously. There were a total of 11 adults and 12 kids. We missed Michelle and Darin, but somehow they didn't want to leave their home state to deliver a baby in Arizona. (That baby is so cute! i need to post a picture of the newest addition-Lily Jane).

Anyway, here are a few (ahem) pictures and videos so you can feel the magic and madness of it all.

Acting out the Nativity with all the grandkids. With only two kids over the age of 8, you can imagine the craziness of it all. Two angels. Alisa decided to "let" Olivia be Mary, so she joined the throng of angels.

We always sing Christmas carols/hymns afterwords, which I love.

The spinach was temporarily taken out to make room for some raw meat. Malia carried this container all over on Christmas eve night.

Thanks to this little Woody fan, I have pictures of Christmas Eve night.

Singing around the piano. We sang In The Bleak Midwinter in church the following Sunday. I love singing with my family.

These girls saved my sanity those few days we were together. They were great playing with Brookie and leading the other kids in games and activities.

New Jammies Pose.

Newest addition at the time: Brody Eugene, born a few days earlier via c-section (Tarah's a champ for even showing up this weekend!)

Second newest addition: Addison Juliet, born early less than 2 months earlier!

Enjoying Christmas Eve yakisoba. It was the spicy kind, unbeknownst to us, so the kids ended up eating microwaved hotdogs. A kid's dream come true, I'm sure!

Christmas morning was not especially early. It was just crazy. You can imagine. We had to have it in the basement, filled with 25 people. Here's little Addison in her new Santa suit.

This is how my morning started. It went on and on until naptime. Proof in the following pictures. Brookie doesn't really like crowds, even if she loves individuals in the crowd.

Waiting. That face of Miss Ashley's looks especially lovely. Such a goof-ball!

Lining up youngest to oldest.

Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma! He loves the castle.

Santa brought Plasmacars this year-- a red one and a pink one. Perfect.

Dressing up in Jake's present. Yo-ho, yo-ho...

This is where I spent most of my morning. Scott and I tag-teamed the "look after the grouchy baby who hates crowds and chaos" duty. I think it is time we get some new duties!

My dad, looking hilarious. I had to put this in.

I had to put this in. This is how I was feeling after over an hour of miss B screaming her head off. Not thrilled.

My parents in their lovely new Snuggies J&T found. Goooo Cougs!

Lisa with little Addison.

Brookie in a rare happy moment. I was stuffing gummy bears down her throat. Don't judge. The chocolate didn't work. She just held it until it made a melted mess, crying all the while.

My parents shedding a tear (well, mom, anyway) over the family picture book J&A made them. It was awesome. Great idea.

Later on, the adults went over to the Peaks (old people/sick people) home to sing. It was neat. We started out singing down the hall, then gathered around the piano in the lobby. One of Scott's patients lives there, and it was sweet to see how happy it made her. Thanks to Amanda and the big girl cousins for watching the kids. And Tarah (but I hope you slept through it all!).

Then, we picked up the kids and headed over to the Seaman's for Santa round two. There was a lot of this:

A little walking from her

And some more of this. Liv and Ash pained the kids faces to keep them entertained while we were gone singing. Always a hit.

Then back to the Crane's for some more Christmas cheer, eggnog, naughty desserts, and fun!

Merry Christmas to me! This really was the best gift this girl could've given me. (Although the message from Scott rivals it! Thanks, hon!) She just decided it was time, and she's been toddling along ever since.

...and what you all missed by not being with us Christmas morning. Poor Brookie. Poor mama! Poor dada! Don't worry, it's short.

Until my next post (which is hopefully sooner that the last), sayonara!