Our Progressive Dinner

just about every year, we hold a Progressive dinner around the holidays with Shawn's family. We set up courses at each families assorted home -- appetizers, salad, main dish, and dessert .... you get the idea. Then we travel from home to home visiting and seeing everyone's beautiful decorations. We had the main dish and Shawn decided to make a nice brisket with scalloped potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts -- all yummy. Unfortunately it took longer than we thought and we missed the first rounds this year but we were ready for them when they hit our home as witnessed by Brooklyn's pose below.

Having seen all of the goodies and fixings for dinner ... Brooklyn's welcoming everyone in anxiously so we can begin!

See Ella's so hungry she begins to gnaw on a coaster in anticipation!

Poor Ryan (Ella's dad), he has no coaster to starve off hunger

But we made it to Grandpa Keith's and Grandma Jacquie's for dessert! And while enjoying some sugary treats, we were greeted by a surprise special visitor -- just in to see the kiddos -- all of them (well at least the ones under 16 and over 70)

Brooklyn scores ANOTHER candy cane from Santa!

Jace is waiting not so patiently for his treat

Then we moved on to the youth with Taylor -- is she flirting with Santa, no that's just her mother's look she's mastered

Then Jared was up but he was a little coy with his list ... but luckily Santa knows anyway

Then older brother Jordan was up -- what a good example!

Except for Tanner who was up and out of the lap I barely had time to snap this quick photo.

Then it was Cole's turn -- It's hard to tell who's more mesmerized with who -- Cole with Santa or the other way around.

But luckily Santa's lap can hold Grandma Jacquie and Grandpa Keith before heading out -- thanks Santa & everyone who did such a nice job hosting and feeding the masses. It's hard not to eat too much it's all so good.