Christmas with the Sass Families!

This is part of the reason for our Christmas -- our children. We are missing Jim, Mandy, Charlotte and Oliver on this shot, but hopefully next year they will be able to join us. We get together to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the season.
Saturday, December 10th I had Christmas with my sister and her family. Our tradition of getting together on Christmas Eve has changed over the past couple of years. Our children have children of their own and want to be with them in their own home on Christmas Eve, so we changed our tradition for new ones! We still get together as a family with an overnight. 2011 was Glee's turn to have the crew in. Barbie (she drove the blue sleigh this year) and I arrived around 2:00 p.m. I really thought we were going to beat Karsten and Beth there but we didn't! Darn!! The boys were running around playing and just being boys! Jackson has been sick and still wasn't up to par, but he did pretty well. He and Barb have this thing about swatting each other on the butt and then taking off! Jackson remembers this from Estes this summer. They had a good time running after each other for awhile. I think Barb finally gave in . . . just getting old!! Jackson also needed time to re-charge because of being sick. Now Tristan on the other hand, is just the happiest toddler I've ever seen. He's always smiling and laughing. One of the things he got for Christmas was a flashlight. He was studying it pretty good on this picture.

Both boys loved helping the rest of us open our gifts. Here's Barb and Tristan working on a gift together. Look at the concentration on Tristan's face. Gotta love him.

Look at those blue, blue eyes. Caught on camera!

We always take turns opening gifts, but all had help this year from the boys. Glee got a frog for her rock garden and both boys wanted to see just exactly what it looked like.

It has become a tradition to take pictures of everyone in front of the Christmas tree. This year was no different. The Sass Clan got together and here's the results. What a great looking bunch of relatives!!

One of Karsten's gifts was a puzzle. Ron's trying his darnest to figure out how to make it work!!

Karsten tries his hand at a gift of Tristan's.

Jackson helped pass out the gifts this year. He's ready to deliver this one. I love this picture. It's a cool shot of such a darling little boy!!!

Now it's time for Jackson to open a gift of his own.

Tristan helped Barb open a gift, now it's Jackson's turn.

Glee found this Santa in Estes Park this past summer. When she wasn't looking Barb grabbed it and got it for her for Christmas. Glee collects Santa's, I collect snowmen.

The Foels Family got a family ornament for their tree. Karsten likes it!!!

Tristan's turn to pass out a gift. Papa's having a great time!

No helpers Barb? Guess she'll have to go it alone on this gift.

Beth collects angels. Here's her latest for her collection!

Mike and I have this thing about candles. When I last moved he carried in boxes and boxes of candles. Told me I had enough to light the City of Dubuque, sooooooo, every Christmas he gets candles from me. Sometimes they're new, and sometimes they've been used!!

Barbie's a Pirates fan (and I don't mean Postville Pirates! At least not in this case). She got the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie from Ron & Glee.

It was Barb and my turn at the in front of the tree picture. And no, I don't know where my hand went. Who took this picture anyway???

The Foels' Family with their darling little boys!!!

We had a great time. Supper was our usual soup and assorted goodies! Everything tasted good and there was plenty to eat all night long. Barb and I stayed over so we could be there in the morning for brunch! Mike headed home as did the Foels' family. We spent part of the evening watching the ISU volleyball team in tournament. Unfortunately they got beat, but the games were good. Jackson pretty much ran out of steam by the end of the evening. Tristan, on the other hand, was still ready to go!!! Hopefully Jackson will be feeling better soon.

Sunday morning Barb and I slept in. I love being at the Sass Farm in the fall and winter. It's so peaceful! Glee had a delicious brunch. All kinds of sweet rolls, an egg casserole, bagels (this is making me hungry all over again). We had a wonderful time and these pictures will always be with us as great memories.

Merry Christmas All!