Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was busy and everyone was healthy. We were with the Southern California family and we found time to go to church because isn’t Christ the part of Christmas what we are celebrating. It’s good not to lose sight of our focus. I love traditions and being with family. We played cards (I won big time and I lost big time). No, I’m not competitive
Christmas Eve consisted of our tradition of making Tamales (we bought 10 lbs of masa and 4 lbs of carnitas, so there were lots of tamales). I didn’t take pictures of that because we were so busy making them. Tamales are our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Many hands make the tamales making much easier.
On Christmas morning the 92 & 93 year old grandma’s came for brunch and then we headed over to my sister Betty’s for dinner. Erica and Andrew headed off to Minnesota after brunch, but we were glad that they were around for Christmas Eve and most of Christmas.
Katie’s mom (Maureen) was here from Pennsylvania. It was nice to see her with her grandchildren.
So, here are some of the pictures I took. Laurel took some of these too. I’m a little worried that she is falling in love with my camera.
Here are Erica and Andrew goofing off for the camera!

Here we are on Christmas Eve before heading off to Church. We like to goof off!

Here we have Katie Maureen and Megan Followed by Katie Kevin and kiddies. What a great family.

This is me and my mother.

Here is grandma with Phi-Yen.







And this is Laurel with overly tall cousin Eric

Carol and precious Megan

Grandma Maureen is reading to Steven.

Megan takes a snooze in the middle of Christmas
What a handsome couple.......

DB and Laurel. Yes!

Here is our family. We miss the Portland Ballanti's.
Three generations. My mother looks good for 93.

Here I am with Colette and Phi-Yen. I'm trying to remember to get pictures with all of the family.

Here I am with Ben and JJ. Your guess is as good as mine as to which one is which!

I really do love Christmas and Family. I have about 150 more pictures from our 5 days down south. Let me know if you want to see them.

We had a great time skyping with Oregon family. We got to skype with both Portland and Oregon Coast Family. My mother really enjoyed the new technology. Thank goodness for Skype.