Liam's Christmas Recital

The McEntees

The Sikoras

The Raybucks

Bob & Mariann's Christmas Party

After the dust had settled, my folks usually host a Christmas Party about a week after the holiday. This year there was another good turn out, and lots of good food and holiday cheer. I'll post some pictures from the party below.

Davey borught his Banjo which he got for his birthday. He's only been playing 2 weeks, but is strumming away just fine. He's using a book and CD to learn how to teach himself how to play.

All the Grandkids got their pictures taken, except Brianna, who was a bit shy. This was the only shot I had of her with the other kids.









Here we see the Farrell siblings with Cousin Jimmy Foley. We missed Joey and Pat not being there with us, but maybe next time.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Can anyone find the person who is trying the hardest to impress Santa Clause, just in case he was looking?

My two least favorite gifts

What was my wife thinking?

A present from Ralphie

Phil finally got what his mother would never buy him because she feared he would shoot his eye out, a Red Rider BB gun!

Christmas Dinner at Farrahers

We had the smallest group yet for dinner. Cullen and his family ate at Sam's mother's house. Ann cooked a brisket and it was great! Phil is not in the picture because he took it!

Christmas Day 2007

After waking up at the crack of dawn, the Farrell kids could hardly wait to run down the stairs and tear open their presents. Of course, before they do so, each year we make them wait so Mommy can get her coffee, and Dad can turn on the lights. Meantime the kids wait patiently on the steps as seen here.

Once the word "Ok," is uttered, it's to the races. Liam and Tristy both got remote control racing cars, ocean & polar play sets etc. Liam & Gilly each got video games, webkins, High School Musical stuff. Gilly got chapter books, a Barbie doll, and American Girl books. Other gifts included AM/FM radio headset, human body (glass) model, and a lot more. Too much to type really. Needless to say, they really enjoyed Santa's visit.

Later that day it was over to Sam's mother's (Betty) where we met the cousins and enjoyed juicy Filet & of course for dessert the home-made chocolate sauce over ice cream, a standard Johnston favorite. They make their own hot fudge sauce and it is out of this world! The kids each exchanged gifts with each other, and Jana is due any minute with baby #3, which they plan to name Luka. Betty keeps saying we'll need a bigger house with soon to be 8 Grandchildren running the roost.

Christmas Eve Travels

Christmas Eve was spent with my family this year, as we made our first visit to Grammy Farrell's, where Santa had preemptively left gifts for the kiddies. We also got a chance to wish Aunt Joey & Maggie a Merry Christmas as well. Gilly played a few Christmas songs on the piano, and Tristan enjoyed some Chocolate Milk. It was a nice, but short visit since mass was at 4:00.

The next stop we went to visit Aunt Sal, where the kids gave her their presents. I happened to take along my lap-top so I could show her the family Christmas gift, that of the Farraher's 1952 & 54 Christmas movies taken by Sara's 8mm video camera many years prior. Erin, Gram McEntee & I all collaborated together to have these old films converted over to DVD format, and our plan was to gift them to Phil & Mom for Christmas. I thought Aunt Sal deserved to preview her own handicraft since it was really thanks to her that we had such Christmas treasures. She was able to point out Aunt Helen Farraher, and really enjoyed seeing her own mother Mary Conroy open a bottle of Irish Whiskey many years ago.

Afterwards it was over to my folks home for Christmas Turkey and all the trimmin's. Colin & Erin, along with Gram McEntee all joined us for the evening, and then we exchanged gifts afterwards. The children got some nice gifts in the process, as did we all. Thanks to those of you who bought the children something special for the holidays. We really appreciate the kind gesture, and the kids really do too. It was a delightful way to bring in the holiday.

Christmas 07 at the Farrells

Once again we all gathered at the homestead for another wonderful Christmas.....we enjoyed all the family & friends and the chaos ...sometimes I think this family thrives on it...we missed Cullen and Sam and the kids but enjoyed them yesterday when they stopped over to see Grandma. Grandma is moving a little slower these days but we are thankful she is still here with us. We are blessed being in a family this big......and it keeps growing....we had Luke walking around with the duster stick...dusting everything in his path....Breanna was sticking close to her Mom and playing with her dolls. Bryan was everywhere...unwrapping presents that Jim & Renee brought him and Finnegan was not letting Tara out of his sight.....we had a visit from Santa (Sean played it this year) and we aren't quite sure whether Finn recognized Santa, but he didn't want anything to do with Santa, that is until Tara sat on Santa's lap with Finn.....(I think Santa really enjoyed that) but Finn had this look on his face as to why was Mommy kissing Santa Claus....all in all it was a beautiful day.... that is until I stepped in dog poop, which was on my list to clean up that I never got to......oh well....I cleaned them off and put them in my suitcase, because I'm heading to Missouri tomorrow at 12:00 and I'm hoping I got everything out of my purse that is lethal (LOL)....well Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.....

Christmas Cookies

Every year, a family tradition is to make Christmas cookies from scratch. The kids love to help, and I thought I'd put up some pictures from this "messy" albeit tasty holiday event.

We put on Christmas carols as we worked, and of course the best part of the night was getting to much on some warm soft cookies as they emerged from the oven.

Trimming the Tree

Just some shots of the tiny tots decorating the Farrell Christmas tree. Using ornaments from both the old and the new days of the season, we put on Christmas carols, and turn the kids loose.

Every year we seem to get more and more ornaments, and seeing them again is like a visit from an old friend.

"Deer" Santa... Please bring me a new Honda

"Fritzie" took a header on the way to work. The deer got the worse of the hit, but needless to say my Civic will be out of commission for a week or so. When you teach out in the middle of nowhere, its sort of like playing Russian Roulete with the Deer. Its only a matter of time until you bump into one.

Still, one hit every 130,000 miles isn't too bad a ratio.

30 Somethings Birthdays-a-Plenty

This is the week of the 30 something birthdays. For my birthday, my folks invited my family down to Shaler, where my father treated me to a fantastic seafood dinner, which included king crab legs, muscles, shrimp cocktail, and we topped it off with Chocolate Cake. Thanks for the gifts Mom & Dad. Thanks also to many of you who mailed me cards as well. It was very thoughtful.


Sam's birthday is 1 week later, which we celebrated tonight. Sam tells us its her last birthday she's going to celebrate, since it marks the last year she can call herself, "30-something". Scary thoughts! I always tell Sam she should be ashamed for 'robbing the cradle.'