our very merry little christmas

{don't mind the chocolate around h & m's mouths...they pretty much had full access to the cookie platter all week. which meant sugar, chocolate, or some sticky substance on their faces at all times. it was christmas!}

what a special christmas...to gather in a cozy cabin in the mountains of deep creek, maryland with my family, only surrounded by powdery snow and pine trees. there was a lot of eating, lounging, laughing, games, more eating, sledding, hot tubbing, movie watching, and one big puzzle.

the attire for the week: pjs or anything cotton (aside from on the eve)

i feel so grateful for this last week and so glad that everyone was actually able to make it with all of the weather conditions, flight cancellations...rodney and heidi even came straight from their honeymoon in cancun!

mom brought a fake christmas tree from home (ready with lights)-- we added strings of popcorn and cranberries for decorations, while uncle buddy (jensen) made snowflakes and paper decorations with the girls.

marta {the chef...the one who went to le cordon blue in london...we reap all the benefits we can} slaved and made beef wellington for christmas eve dinner--our family favorite and tradition with individual pots de creme for dessert. it was amazing.

rodney and heidi basked in each other's love.

i mainly moved from one cozy sitting location to another.

steve manned all things dad...sledding with the girls, preparations for santa, restocking the fire, etc...

as for the hannah and madeline?? well, they were in heaven. lots of space to roam, run, rampage. plenty of uncles/aunts to play the imaginary game of the moment--whether hunting nice christmas ghosts with their flashlights, playing family, or entertaining us with song & dance or some kind of fashion show. i don't think they ever went to bed earlier than 10 or 11 every night.

dreams came true christmas morn when santa indeed brought both girls a doll with clothes. and i was pretty happy that we were able to convince them, both separately, to ask santa to give them a doll with clothes, allowing me to pass down my favorite dolls with clothes and accessories from when i was a little girl.

"santa" {aka uncle buddy with a lot of fluff} even made a last stop to the cabin before heading back to the north pole later that day. madeline was dumb-founded and is still talking about it. while hannah caught on instantly, had a little smirk on her face, but was kind enough to keep it a secret from madeline. and we were all in tears laughing.

what a special time of year to be able to gather together as families and reflect upon the birth, life, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.