Over the hills and through the woods....

to grandmother's house we go. For those readers who have never been to Lake Mohawk, NJ, this couldn't be more fitting. Lots of hills, trees, bears, deer, Swiss chalet style houses all clustered around a lake and little town channeling "Dirty Dancing." Nobody puts Baby Finn in the Corner!" The Bracken/Reavey family Christmas is very Norman Rockwell...people driving in from Connecticut with turkeys on platters, yule logs, Christmas themed broach pins, Irish guys with faces reddened by far too many bourbon shots. Santa stops by every year and hands out presents to the family. I learned the hard way that Santa has nothing but a bag full of gift wrapped hate until you formally marry into the family...not even an engagement ring gets you gift eligible..you got to have the paper. This year was extra special as the Brackens had party following a few days later to celebrate Matt and Lisa's engagement and introduce Finn to the neighbors. I'd love to pepper this post with witty anecdotes from the party, but who am I kidding? This was like two months ago. I can barely recognize the people in the photos. Damn this blog and it's horizontal narrative stream.

Picture Key:

1. Finn and the grandparents during the open house party

2. Finn mildly worried about the lack of infant appropriate gift options. Damn you Santa.

3. Finn and Grandpa Bracken.

4. The McDavits, Hosana, Lisa and Matt of the BBQ express.

5. Amazing party spread before the hordes.

6. Hour three of gift opening and Finn finally gets a toy he can relate to.

7. Finn hanging with cousin Kyle, one of New Hampshire's finest.

8. Colleen and Grandma Dunne.

9. Molly with Grandpa and Matt. I think the boys have shot glasses at the ready.

10. Cousins Dr. Jimmy Lai and Eileen Bull.

11. Serafina hearing Santa in the yard. Fire IT UP!

12. Uncle Joe Cron, Aunt Anne Bull, who tarts it up by washing dishes without her shirt. Williamsburg is a dirty town I guess. She moved south and changed. Grandma Dunne and Kevin Bracken round it out.