Nana has been waiting to see some Christmas pictures... so this post is for her!

Here are our dear friends the Al-Khalifas, who came halfway around the world for a traditional American Christmas with our family.

On December 23rd we rented a Duffy boat and went out to see the spectacularly decorated mansions around Newport Harbor. Loads of fun with Grandma Joyce and our friends from Bahrain.

Santa delivered 13 stockings to our home on Christmas Eve!

Thanksgiving was a wonderful time with my Mom (Grandma,) my Brother, Sister-in-law, and nephews (Uncle Geordie, Aunt Cathi, Aidan and Emmett!) Highlights were our trip to Sea World, playing Hockey on the cul de sac with some neighborhood friends, and Cousin Joy's scrumptious truffles. My dry Turkey was definitely not a high! Another wonderful blessing that came from our family time together was that my Brother took some family pictures for us.

I've missed chronicling lots of big events here at "Brunner Party of Five." Managing all five of us is a busy life or me, and blogging just doesn't seem to make the cut these days! Last I wrote we were just beginning the fun at "Calvin Christian School" and enjoying Caleb's first soccer season.

Let's start catching up with our trip to Bate's Nut Farm in the Fall.