Christmas 2009

While not the best picture I have ever taken, I had to include it because I am laughing at the card my sister included with our Christmas gifts. One line read "..because sometimes it's hard to be pregnant, and sometimes it's hard to live with someone who is pregnant". Is there is any gift more priceless than being understood?

Once again, not the most photogenic holiday, but this is a lovely candle and I enjoy burning it.

Our annual tradition continues of making new stockings each year, and I am sad to say that I think those are the same pajama pants I have worn the last 3 Christmas mornings- I have a lot to work on before next December!

His stocking was perfect- literally. Pottery Barn could have sold it with pride.

Perhaps this years' most enjoyable gifts- the marshmallow guns!

(though we do love the swiss diamond!)

Cotter Cuteness

I think it is some kind of rules that all little girls must at some point in their life wear patent leather mary janes!
Good luck saying no to that face!

It's so nice to have family close and spend time together.

The oldest son and the oldest grandson.

The Apple of Love

The Cotter family tells a story which has now come to be known as the Apple of Love. The actual story is quite beautiful as it displays the human ability to forgive and extend love to those who we belive have wronged us. The short version as told by me, is that a young daughter married a cowboy and ran off with him. This caused a great deal of harm and I am sure embarrassement to the family. Some time passed- several years I believe, and the father decided that he needed to extend love to his daughter and so he collected the most beautiful apples he could and sent them to her. She accepted this offering and returned to see her family and great was the joy for all involved. The actual story has much more detail, and so at least once a year the Cotters gather together, a tray of sliced apples is passed around and as we eat the apple slice someone re-tells the story. This year Charla told the story and read parts from the original account which added new details to the story for everyone.
Charla telling the story of the Apple of Love and Sara playing the piano for Christmas carols.

Buck singing "Guard Him Joseph" which has sang in a quartet on Christmas Sunday and then sang as a solo for the talent show portion of the evening.

I told the story of the Nativity using a set we had in my house growing up. I had asked Brielle to help me arrange the characters and soon most of the children were gathered around.

Bill and Marianne made this hilarious video of scottish dancing and you can barely make out Bill playing the bagpipe and dancing in his kilt- I think they stole the show that night!

Chad sang one of his original songs inspired by the Christmases of Cotter's Past. He is very creative and quite the entertainer.

Brooke playing a little song on the piano- she even sang with her song, though the tune and lyrics were unfamiliar to the rest of us, I do love her spunk.

Brielle played a few songs on the piano and is quite accomplished.

We had a wonderful evening at Chad and Sara's home and it was nice to celebrate the holiday season together.