Our First Christmas

We have always had a seperate Christmas with Lori, Brian, Michael, and Erik. It was at the Aubins again this year, with the theme soups and salads. We all really liked the lighter fare--or did we just eat more??? Dad made a chioppino complete with clams, here is showing everyone how they open and close!

Aunt Lori and Uncle Brian made a matzo ball soup! It was nice to see Brian, he is pretty busy with duties for the American Leigon.

Lily and Ava were really being serious kids while consuming their dinner. They are so boring, really!

The crew, with Wynt taking the photo... Aunt Lori wrote and read a really cute poem about everyone to the lyrical rhyme of Twas the night before Christmas. Very special and creative, Aunt Lori.

Cuzzzzzzzzzz Erik and I. Erik brought down from Tahoe a huge tupperware of photos from his mom's house. We all looked through them for hours. Pictures that some of us had never seen before, and pictures that some of us hadn't seen for a long time. Memories were made looking at memories from the past. That was a very special treat to look back 50+ years in time.

Dad now plans on leaving for Iraq February first. We were sure glad that his trip got delayed (selfishly!) for the holidays, but he is super excited to beat feet as he would say!