Christmas 2010

The Berges/Schei Family Christmas 2010

In November, we discovered that Geoff, Jennifer and Isaac would have the opportunity to spend Christmas at Mom and Dad's house ON Christmas Day!  The 'usual' is that we pick a week in January to celebrate Christmas all together when Geoff isn't flying - but this year was a treat and may not come around again for a long time.  So regardless of Kyle and I's desire to have our own family Christmas traditions at our house in Everett, we gladly packed up the kids and headed east.

Jennifer and Isaac flew into Seattle on Monday and she and I packed the van full of kids and gifts and headed over the pass on Wednesday to descend on my parent's house.  As we rounded the corner, we honked and made our way up the drive... we were ready to get inside and begin unwinding from our travels as well as begin our adventures for what the week ahead would hold.  Mom ran out dancing and waving her arms in delight.  She grabbed children from the van and herded them inside the warm house.  Jennifer and I began unloading our loot and dropping it off at the door... we were moving in.

Kyle flew into Pasco on Thursday morning and it was wonderful to have him around!  He began his usual IT work on my parents' home computer and began finessing my Dad into going 'Apple' -- he was successful the day after Christmas!  After purchasing an iMac, my Dad handed the reigns over to Kyle and before we left on Monday he was running on the 'high' of what Apple offers -- I'm sure things will only get more exciting every time Kyle visits... :) 

Thursday evening we were on the phone with Geoff.  His flight from Minneapolis into Pasco was canceled due to low visibility and his odds of catching the flight into Seattle was looking rather bleak.  We all sat in the living room praying for God's comfort to be on Geoff as he awaited the decision that would define his Christmas 2010 plans.  If he didn't make the flight, he wouldn't be home for Christmas with the family... we got a text from him some long 10 minutes later that they had officially closed the door of the aircraft he was on and he would be arriving into Seattle at midnight.  We all giggled with excitement and thanked the Lord for his goodness.  Not to mention, it just so happened the gentleman sitting next to him was driving to Pasco once they landed and had an extra seat for Geoff!  It was great to go to bed with a smile on our face... we would all be together soon.

David, Lesley and Emma arrived on Friday and we began our festivities.  Buffalo wings and shopping, preparing Christmas dinner and going to the Christmas Eve service (minus Benjamin, Will and me since they were fighting to not fall asleep at the dinner table) - and getting intentional about relaxation and good conversation.  Dad had pulled out a percolator not unlike what you'd see in the fireside room at church - coffee was perking 24 hours a day.  Correction - 18 hours a day.  We slept a little.

The kids and Geoff and Jen built snowmen and snow caterpillars with what was left of the snow and we gathered around the fire pit at night... the kids went to bed just past their usual bedtime and the adults stayed up far past theirs'.  We made the best Prime Rib yet and scorched the tar out of the Cornish Game Hens.  Geoff and David began the mighty task of building from scratch a gingerbread farm - and they don't do anything half-a**.  It was an absolutely wonderful time together... and now we start the countdown to the annual Beach Family Reunion...

Emma, Benjamin, William and Katie watching Ice Age

Katie and Emma doing crafts

iBar (Isaac Barclay) and Jennifer wrestling in Grandpa and Grandma's kitchen

iBar at bath time

Jennifer hiding from the camera...

The Gingerbread Barn

Lesley hiding from the camera...

I love you all so much... thank you Mom and Dad for hosting us all!!

I intend to post more pictures soon... :)