We had a white Christmas in PA. It started snowing Christmas Eve. Christmas morning the first thing I did was take Becca out to play in the snow, since I was afraid it would melt by the afternoon. We had a great time making a snowman and having a snowball fight. When Becca got cold, Josh came out and built two more snow-people with me. It was a lovely way to start Christmas Day, and yes, the snow melted by the afternoon.

We started the family Christmas festivities by getting the picture-taking out of the way. Both kids and adults survived the ordeal.

After picture-taking, we began the Sutter Family Christmas morning (or should I say almost afternoon…it takes a while for 18 people to get ready in the morning) traditions: 1) Cinnamon rolls and carol singing – this year we had piano and trumpets accompanying our singing; 2)Reading the Christmas story with flannel graph – it is fun to see the grandchildren do the flannel graph; 3) Gift exchange – we are each assigned one family member to buy gifts for; 4) Omelets made by Sam – I think he’s been doing this since he turned 12; 5) Rest – naps, reading, games; and 6) Dinner. This year Uncle Joey ended the day with giving all his nieces and his nephew Christmas pj’s.

Our flight home on Thursday was cancelled, so we had an extra day in PA. Mom took the remaining families (us and Sam-Ashley-Colette, plus Emily and a friend) to the Whittaker Center in Harrisburg. The little girls enjoyed all the activities.

One funny story from Christmas – we bought my dad some pistachios for Christmas. After my dad opened them up, he and Becca spent the next several minutes eating them…and then the next several evenings eating them. Pretty sure Becca ate most of the pistachios — and perhaps even more than we gave Dad for Christmas!