O'Dell 2010 Holiday Re-Cap....

2010 brought a great holiday season full of family and fun. Karl and I enjoyed the weeks leading up to Christmas, even if they did fly by, and had a great time keeping old traditions, and even trying a few new things.

The Faus were in charge of the Hamilton Family Christmas Party and we had a great time playing "Minute to Win It" games, listening to Tenny share a few thoughts and listening to mom remind us of the real reason for Christmas as she sang "Mary Did You Know" while Aniva, dressed as Mary, held baby Damian.

Christmas Eve brought the O'Dell Family Christmas Party and we had a great time at Aunt Linda's house visiting with family. Karl has a great family and it is so fun to get together-- it's also fun to get to know them more and more each year. All of his siblings were there and I know it always means a lot to his Dad to have all his family around him-- I only wish I had remembered my camera! Next year for sure!

We broke a bit with tradition this year in one big way. We usually have dinner at my mom's house for Christmas Eve, which happens to be my mom and dad's anniversary-- 35 years this year!-- but since Mom was flying up to Oregon to be with Ana's family on Christmas day and had a lot to do, we decided to do a Fau family Christmas breakfast. I made homemade waffles and a breakfast casserole and we had such a great time. Mom set out her Christmas china, another first for us.....
And we had fun watching mom open her presents before we opened ours and then Karl whisked her away to the airport, just in time for her to fly out an make a surprise visit to the Littlefield boys...

Uncle Karl got some quality time in with the newest family addition, Damian! So handsome...

After breakfast at Mom Faus we went home for a much deserved and enjoyed nap before heading off to dinner at Mom O'Dell's house-- yummmm-- where we got to visit with Karl's brothers, sisters and nieces and nephews before a stopping off at Aniva and David's to end the night! Well, end my night, as Karl and Tenny hit the late night showing of True Grit (call me old-as I was way to tired to venture out again!).

The week between Christmas and New Year brought vacation time for me (yippee!) and a trip to the Magical Forest. It was the first time we had been and it was so much fun (thanks for the tickets Ali and Aunt Jami)! Other then a minor bear attack, we enjoyed hot chocolate and snuggling to keep warm...
And I got a head start in the Santa line for 2011...

We ended 2010 with a nice dinner out and then an evening in! Truly a great holiday season and nice way to end the year. Looking forward to 2011 and more fun to come!