A really great sort of chaos

The Romanian translation for chaos is the word haos.
It is pronounced almost exactly like house.
And although there are numerous vocabulary I struggle to remember in my second language,
this is definitely not one of them.
Because our house has always been the epitome of chaos.
As in: "the inherent unpredictability of a complex natural system."
That complex natural system being, of course, our family.

And this Christmas found us as inherently unpredictable as ever.
In the best possible way of course.
We seriously couldn't have had a better holiday!

It included:

Watching the live nativity outside.

And later listening as it was read by dad and enacted by these cute kidlets: 

Constructing these gorgeous confectiony edifices. 

Lunching & visiting with Grandma Hartley.

Hours spent learning, playing, and obsessing over this game:

** this in no way diminished the hours usually spent playing rook

11 adults laughing uncontrollably while huddled around watching this muppets clip at least a dozen time:

Cheering on the men as they competed in the hillspring basketball tournament.

And especially being witness to this score:

(That's an 83 on the left. And was earned only after their sub finally showed up.)

Successfully damming (an effort engineered by Ryan & Jordan) the partially frozen river with giant snowballs,

and doing a bit of tobogganing on the side.

 Competing in Remington badminton day(s) at the church gym.

An up close view of one of Santa's twelve. 

(We could tell he was no ordinary deer due to his apparent affinity for cinnamon bears,

which he consumed right off the review mirror.)

Lots & lots of family togetherness.

The general adoration of these scrumptious niblets!

Enjoying all sorts of delicious edibles: 

Oh, and apparently some heartfelt caroling.

A marvelous time I'd say.