Christmas in Hindsight - Part 2

Christmas Eve gifted us with a beautiful snowfall. It was a perfect, magical, heavy snow that clung to the trees and made the whole city quiet.

Christmas Eve night we headed to Great Grandma's for dinner and cookies with Paw-Paw's family. 17 people crammed into Great Grandma's little apartment is rather claustrophobic. Add to that a large collection of fragile knick knacks, a food-stealing dog, neighbors who cannot tolerate noise, and a new cousin due this spring and one could see why I am campaigning for a change of venue for next year.

Given the circumstances, the kids all did great. Lots of fun with cousins, TONS of gifts from Santa and of course, Great Grandma's famous Christmas Cookie spread.

Gram helping out with Nathan.

Paw-Paw keeping the kids entertained before dinner. I love this picture for so many reasons.

The whole Schoeneberg/Barken Family, minus Peter who was at work. Our first Christmas without Great Grandpa. He was still there in conversations about his wood carvings and his favorite cookies. He would have loved the hustle and bustle of all of us together.