Lots of pictures

Of the 500 or so photos taken over nearly a week with visitors here from Owatonna, Richfield, and Chapel Hill (not including those on Annie/Tanner's camera, which I haven't seen yet), I'm curious as to which ones will get picked for display on various family blogs. I checked to see if Angie, Charlie, or Annie had posted any photos yet. They haven't, so I get the first pick!

Everyone read to nearly everyone else... here Uncle Evan is reading a book about a girl named Hannah!
Owen, Ethan, & Gma Jill enjoyed hearing Mommy Angie read a story. Ethan's expression reflects his concern that the little mouse named Owen is being pressured to give up his security blanket.

Hannah & Miles learn about Minnesota winter from Mommy/Auntie Beesie.
Hannah & GGpa Charlie are "reading" the photo calendar GGpa received as a gift from Hannah, Miles, Ethan, & Owen.

A good deal of cuddling of babies took place, too...

We generally try to get some manual labor out of our guests. Angie wrangled the snowblower...
...while Tanner and Elisabeth removed snow the old-fashioned way.

Meanwhile, Annie got stuck in the snow over
by Mary and Darrel's house, and needed to be dug out.

Inside where it was warm, babies needed
feeding, and everyone pitched in...

The toddlers played with the toy kitchen, making
hot coffee and hamburger sandwiches with syrup...

And of course the Christmas holiday at our house wouldn't be complete without Evan lighting Hanukkah candles. We look forward to it every year. Hannah taught us the name of the candle that is used to light the other candles: the Shamash candle.

Here is the saddest picture of the week--Ethan, surrounded by gifts, alone in his Bumbo, waiting for his parents, cousins, aunties, uncles, and grandparents to let him open JUST ONE present. Let's get this party started!

The most exciting picture-taking event each visit is the Cousin Line-Up. We tried it first in July, with hilarious success, and again in October. This time there were two Cousin Line-Up photo shoots. It's nearly impossible to pick from the dozen or more shots of each set. So, dear family members, if you have other choices to put on your blogs, even better. I found it nearly impossible to pick these!

Cousins in their Christmas monkey pj's...

Zebras and giraffes and cousins... OH MY!

Everyone has gone home as of today, and as I've lamented before, the house is TOOOOO QUIIIIIEEEET without toddlers and babies filling the air with their giggles, squeals, chatter, and occasional cries. Fortunately, I captured some of the noise and fun on video, which will be posted on Youtube.

We love you all... come back soon!