Summing up the HOLIDAZE

Our kids said (and I agree) it was the best Christmas ever this year.
We can chalk that up to the 7 days of Christmas, created by the Downs family and implemented by us this year. I rarely turn down a good idea.
Here's how it goes; Each day leading up to Christmas the family does something we normally don't do, (i.e., no tv, video games, chess playing, everyone off doing their own thing...etc.) something memorable and big and FUN. One of the kids would open up a little note (that happened to rhyme really cute), explaining what we were about to do.
Day 7: Flashlight Tag! One of my favorite nights actually. I felt a little like Jack Bauer on 24.
Day 6: The boys went skiing, the girls rang the salvation army bell. Not quite fair as far as fun-ness, but our girls still had fun. How can you turn down a few dollars to those cute girls?
I'm telling you--salvation army should always have kids ringing the bell.
Day 5: Family Christmas party at BWD's brother's house. I discovered a new soup I love--cream of mushroom. We also did the whole white elephant thing. After we got home we made our very own donuts! Everyone donned an apron, we made 'em, cut 'em & fried 'em! They were nothing like Crispy creme, but it was pretty fun to use a deep fryer.
Day 4: Watch old family video and then make one of our own. We couldn't do part 2, because Austin was really sick, but the watching was hilarious.
Day 3: We went dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh ride through our neighborhood! Okay, more like trotting verrrrrry slowly, but still--very memorable.
Day 2: The Marshmellow Gun War. Matrix music blasting in the background--mini marshies covering our main floor. Every man (woman, girl) for himself.
Day 1: Christmas Eve--tradition continued here. We read the Christmas story, sang songs, got the cookies made for Santa, opened our new pj's from dad and headed to bed before the big man arrived.
Christmas Day: The Usual. Started the morning at 5:00 a.m., with Katrina announcing what everyone got. Santa did not disappoint, and I think Katrina's relentless letters to Santa letting him know that even if he left her coal, she still thinks he does a good job helped.
Fast forward--
New Years Eve: Ice skating at Southlands, followed by Pizza & Maggie Moos ice cream. Some of our friends came over for a little partay later that night.
New Years Day: We Fondued like nobody's business. That's always a good time.

I don't have a lot of pictures and I'm very bitter about it, but here's what we've got that turned out!