We had a really good thanksgiving this year.  Jake and Carolyn came over with Noah and Heidi.  It was a little touch and go initially as Noah had a slight fever on Wednesday but it was mostly gone on Thursday.  We decided that we’d rather risk sickness than be without our family.  We had a great turkey dinner at around noon and then just sat around talking and hanging out the rest of the day.  It was very nice and relaxing.

On Friday Jake and Carolyn came over again so Jake could help me put up my Christmas lights.  Then we went to the movies to see Planet 51.  The kids really seemed to enjoy it.  I thought it was pretty good.  It wasn’t Pixar but it was watchable.

On Saturday we decided it was time to get our Christmas trees.  Jake and Carolyn came over once again as is the tradition for our tree cutting.  Alex and Melodie also joined us.  We drove to Moscow and got our permits ($5).  Then we drove out in to the Idaho forest and wandered around until we found trees that would fit and looked good.  We came home and played some Super Mario Wii.  Once everyone was back at their own places we hauled all the Christmas decorations up from the basement and started setting up.  Its a very nice tree.  I love Christmas.

I apologize for this post of just pictures but I forgot to put them in the last post.  Anyway, here are some pictures from Christmas.

So we had Christmas in Olympia with my parents this year.  It was fun.  We all had a good time.  The snow was pretty awful but we managed.  We pretty much just stayed home.  I already posted about Christmas Eve events so I won’t go in to that.  Christmas Day was really relaxing.  We let the kids open their presents first while we waited for Adam and Kelly to arrive from across town.  The kids had a good time.  Stuart got his beloved Rock’ Em Sock ‘Em Robots game.  Andy got a bunch of miscellaneous stuff.

Once Adam and Kelly showed up the adults opened theirs.  All of the boys got X-Ray glasses (from the comics) and switch-blade combs from my father.  They are fun.  Well the combs are anyway.  The glasses don’t live up to the hype.  I also got 2 new D&D books.  Martial Power and The Manual of the Planes, which I’m very excited about.  I also bought a 3rd book, the Draconomicon, with some Christmas money from my parents.  I know I’m a geek.

The rest of the day we spent lounging around reading and playing with stuff.  It was very relaxing and fun to spend the time with family.  The girls all went to see Twilight in the afternoon.  We also did some miniature painting since Jake got a bunch in his stocking.

We stayed in Olympia for a few more days and then headed home.  My Dad was coming with us and my Mom was going to follow the next day.  We got to North Bend and found that it was snowing hard in the pass and chains were required.  My Dad didn’t have chains so we decided it would be best for him to return to Olympia to be safe.  It all worked out for the best because we wouldn’t have had much time to spend in Pullman.  We also arrived in Pullman to find that the snow plow had piled the snow from the street across our driveway so we had to dig that out as well.

Then came New Years Eve.  It was a Wednesday so naturally we couldn’t cancel our usual D&D session so that is what we did.  We got a bunch of food.  My friends all came over and we played D&D till 12:30 or so.  It was a good time.  Kami went to her brother’s house and played Rock Band 2 and had a good time there as well.

All in all a very good holiday.  Plus I didn’t gain any weight.