Christmas at the Kloska's

We had more problems with our tree this year than ever before. It happened to be the largest yet -about 12 feet or so. Twice it fell down -once after we left the room, secondly on me :). Its definitely no fun catching a 12-13 foot tree. After we got it better secured and strung with lights, Dad discovered the lights were put on the wrong way (with the plug side on the top). After they were strung a second time, he discovered that the new lights he bought (we needed more for such a large tree) were a very obvious different color of 'white.' I rummaged through the house trying to find a substitute, eventually having to take down all the mantle decorations in the family room to get to the lights beneath them. Yet I tripped bringing them into the family room, ripping the wires in them. Janek and Dad drank a beer and set to rewiring them -in the end, we did have the prettiest tree Pleasant Place has ever seen... thank God Janek kindly stayed up late helping me fasten all the bows and ornaments...

Christmas season is not Christmas without some little Kloskas gathered around the kitchen table to 'decorate cookies.' We had 7 kids 5 and under (Kathy's, Ali's and Hania/Janek's). Thankfully Catherine Swick agreed to be an extra set of helping hands. It was a very messy and yummy experience:

There's no babysitter like Grandma...

The Swicks' December Christmas Rosary for families:

Once a month the Swicks have a rosary that families can come and pray together -the December one is always especially fun including caroling throughout our neighborhood. I wish the video would download, because its a neat one -but I've had problems with it the past few days.

Hania and Janek transported their children through the neighborhood via sled:

Adas, Dominik and Tomek with 'The Mountain of Gifts'...
Mom (and Dad :) ) does an amazing job every Christmas. Mom makes sure that every one of her children, children-in-laws and 50 grandchildren have 2 or 3 gifts to open. She has a very tight budget and somehow manages to get the perfect gift, at the right price, never duplicating year after year for each person. She has three lists we check as we wrap... just amazing.

The Downey Children:

The Bobby Kloska Family:

Cousins:

The Marino Family:

The Thomas Family:

More cousins:

Dad and the grandchildren praying over Bobby so he will get his platelets back:

Opening Gifts:

Catherine providing hair for Grandpa:

Typical Aunt Mary (my sisters thought it was funny that I was keeping two babies happy at once -one on my lap and the other in my arms -they said it was a 'typical Mary' picture -so they added a third for a picture and suddenly the girls did not like sharing the attention -they really were happy until they got out the camera):

Sledding!: