“Family is family. Whether it’s the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way.”

I loved this when I heard it on Modern Family (the Express Christmas episode). And that’s really what the holidays are all about- family.

From big parties, to the four of us opening gifts- this Christmas was filled with lots of little moments that made us smile- Brendan opening his mermaid doll, seeing Aidan in the Christmas Pageant, hanging out with work friends and bowling, watching Chris watch the kids get totally geeked out with our family gift (an iPad).

It was crazy, messy, chaotic and went on for days (and still is). But its everything I love- my family.

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly. -Andy Rooney