. . . and Christmas Day on the Farm

Guess what! Santa visited our house last night! The girls must have been good this year. They found presents stacked with their overstuffed stockings by the fireplace, but Scrooge (Daddy) wouldn't let them open anything until we had read the final Advent devotion. When you're a kid, it's hard to get excited about the birth of Jesus Christ when Santa Claus has dropped off a load of presents for you to open . . . just . . . as . . . soon . . . as . . . we've . . . read . . . from . . . the . . . Bible! Well, after some initial pouting, the girls focused on the reason for the season, and then we finally turned to the fruits of the commercialization of the holiday. The best of both worlds!

Hillary, Abigail, and Suzanna in new Christmas outfits seated by their tempting Santa Claus loot mere minutes before Daddy said, "But first, let's read our Advent devotion for today." Notice that they're still smiling!

Do they look related?

Susan made a tasty breakfast, and we all got ready for the day, packed the vehicle with everything we would need for a long weekend of driving around the state visiting relatives and friends, and hit the road for Dad and Beverly's farm. Cathy cleared out the back seat of her car, and all three of her nieces joined her for the drive.

Here are Cathy, Suzanna, Hillary, and Abigail before setting off for the farm. There was some intermittent napping going on in the back seat throughout the drive, I heard tell.

Here's what we get to see on our drive through the Badlands of southwestern ND en route to Dad's. Beautiful!

We were joined for Christmas dinner at Dad and Beverly's by Beverly's brother Kenny and his wife Bea. Later in the afternoon, Beverly's son Dennis, his wife Julie, their son Ryan, and his wife Kristi (remember?) came out to visit, too. There was a lot going on today: gift opening after dinner, performances by the girls (Beverly had printed out some Christmas-themed things for the girls to read and asked them to sing some holiday songs, too, for an impromptu Christmas program in the living room), much playing of the Wii video game system that Cathy had brought along, continued eating, lots of visiting, and even an early birthday celebration for Suzanna. Whew! It was fun but completely exhausting!

The meal featured ham and smoked turkey and homemade lefse.

Dad and Beverly's dog, Bandy, gets pretty tuckered out when the girls and I are around to play with her.

"Silent Night" upon request (unrehearsed).

An impromptu Christmas program, thanks to Grandma.

Cathy showed the girls how to play the Wii.

Abigail and Suzanna burned off some of the calories from dinner by playing sports games on the Wii.

Hillary persuaded Ryan to join her in a game on the Wii.

Suzanna will turn 11 next week and got to celebrate early with Grandpa and Grandma, Auntie Cathy, et al.