I know some of you had expressed particular interest in seeing pictures of our holidays on this blog. Well, here you go, 2 months later (sorry)! We really did have an excellent Christmas, and can't wait for next year. Payson "got" the idea of gifts but not obnoxiously so - she would patiently open one and then play with it. We had a great couple of days!
Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to spend it with Matt's dad, stepmother, stepbrother & family, and sister and family. Payson and her cousins found this box to be the best toy - and I'm finding the contents of this gag gift to be one of my favorite gifts - new Tupperware! (You know you're old when this stuff excites you.) Above - Payson in the box.
Cousin Chloe in the box.
And cousin Fiona in the box (it was really hot in the house!)
The best picture I took of all 3 squirmy, excited girls!
We lost power Christmas morning but luckily it came back on so we could have breakfast and open some gifts together as a family. Santa left Payson a new helmet, which she wore for a good hour. 
Her favorite gift by far, even over the box above, were these freeze dried strawberries. She won't eat many other fruits, but she could eat an entire container of these in one sitting, if we let her!
All dressed and ready to head to Mimi and Papa's!
The annual family shot by the Christmas tree.
We were lucky this year to be joined by our good friends the Smiths who were unable to make their annual jaunt to Buffalo because Stacy was experiencing some serious back issues. They joined us for what I hope will be a new tradition for our family - doing something active and outside every Christmas. We had enough snow to go sledding this year!
In lieu of a more toddler-friendly hill, Matt and I took both Alison and Payson down this rather large hill in a gravel pit adjacent to Matt's house. Boy, does he have stories about what he did in the "pit" as a kid! It was quite a ride for the 4 of us on the "family fun toboggan." We went airborn briefly and poor Payson got a face full of snow. She cheered up when she saw a snowmobile, though, which made Matt pretty happy. I think I'm in trouble. I hope the price of four stroke models falls by the time Payson can ride!
My new favorite family shot!