Christmas week

I've taken so many pictures that my camera is out of memory, but guess who forgot to bring their camera cord?

Highlights thus far:

• Family, family, family. I have spent so much time sprawled on the couch with my sisters braiding each others' hair or just cuddled up together talking. This is what I've been waiting for the past few months; I'm not exaggerating when I say my sisters and my mom are truly my best friends.
• Spending time cleaning a local mansion that has been turned into a guesthouse for family members of hospital patients. It's similar to the Ronald McDonald house, but offers housing to the family of patients of all ages. It was a beautiful home (built in 1866 with all kinds of beautiful details) and it was such a wonderful activity to do as a family. We were so grateful for the opportunity, and I was especially glad that the children came with us and enthusiastically helped to mop and dust for the "sick people families."
  
• Lots of good food. So much that I considered fasting all morning before our hors d'ouevres festival tonight. In addition to all the awesome food we've made at home, we've visited some fantastic local restaurants.
• Snow! We had a great snowball fight when we went to get the tree on Saturday, and the kids are heading outside right now.

And now I'm supposed to be cooking. Bring on the mini quiches, the baked Brie en croute, the chicken wontons, the caramelized onion tart, the hummus, veggies, and pita triangles, and the bruschetta and crostini. Which means we better go clear the counters of Christmas cookies...