Sunday, December 25, 2005

Christmas 2005



For the holidays the Riley’s headed North to Pennsylvania just like Perry Como sings about. It was nice to be around our family again. This year was even more different from last year…This year we traveled around to people’s houses instead of hosting our own. It felt weird, not bad weird, just different weird. I had been hosting the Christmas open house since 1998, that’s six years of wonderful family memories in our home.
We stayed with my parents who made many comfortable accommodations for our group of five. Trish and the kids arrived in town Jan. 20th at about 11:30 pm.
On the 21st we settled in and visited with Grand-mom McBreen and Aunt Elizabeth. On the 22nd we went to the Birthday Party of Katie Edmonson (Dec 25th) hosted by Jenn Rullmann and her girls, and partook of a wonderful Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream cake. After the party, we hot footed it over to visit with Grammy and Papa Riley.
On the 23rd we visited Grand-pop Buss then headed to a birthday party for Grammy (Dec 23rd). Luckily Thomas was able to join us and surprise his mother for her birthday. Tom’s wrestling tournament in Washington D.C. ended a little early getting him back on the road to PA sooner than anticipated.
Christmas Eve was spent with Grammy and Papa Riley, like usual. With all the brothers, sister, & cousins in attendance gobbling up the Shrimp Cocktail and chocolate candies, while tearing apart tenderly wrapped packages.
On Christmas Morning we shared the holiday with Mom-mom & Pop-pop McBreen, Aunt Elizabeth & Mike, his brother Brian and our little clan with all the anticipation sitting at the top of the steps can hold. (pictured left) As always, accompanied by the musical styling of Perry Como. (A McBreen family tradition)
Christmas after noon was spent at James & Beth’s house, followed by dinner at the McBreen’s with the addition of Uncle John.
Sadly, sickness struck after the holidays but we were well and able to travel home on the evening of December 30th.

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