christmas afternoon.

For the second year in a row, we spent the late afternoon and early evening hours out at Keystone where both my mom's parents and my dad's mom are living. Everybody brings food to share and presents for each other and we just relax, eat, and enjoy getting to be together as a big family.

Most of the pictures below are courtesy Jeb and Adria, photographers extraordinaire. Thanks, guys!

First up: the great-grandparents.

Love from cousin Adria and Great Auntie Cathy.

These next photos are especially meaningful for me -- Lorelei and I received mother-daughter aprons that my grandmother had made for me and my mom almost 30 years ago (I have many cute pictures of myself as a toddler wearing mine as I "helped" in the kitchen!), plus a lovely cookbook that will be fun to start trying with her next Christmas.

Playing pass the baby...

...and a family shot, minus Jeb who was behind the camera.

christmas morning.

Christmas Eve.

For the past 21 years, my mom's family has gathered at the Good Earth in Edina to celebrate my cousin Bret's birthday and generally make merry. Sometimes we have more people than other years, but it's been a fun tradition no matter who is able to attend.

My cousin Adria and her boyfriend Jeb have some photos from this event, as does my uncle Steve. Here's hoping they share some with me so I can pass them on to you! In the meantime, here's one picture I stole from Adria's Facebook page.

UPDATE: Jeb and Adria provided me with so many awesome pics! Here are a few favorites.

That evening, we got all dolled up and went to Chapel Hills for a beautiful Christmas Eve service.

Lorelei was a very well-behaved baby -- she only made one tiny little peep during the whole service. We did leave in the middle for a diaper change and accidentally returned during the Hallelujah chorus when everyone was turned around facing the choir loft and, consequently, us. Oops! Afterwards, it was back to 10319 for Famous Dave's takeout, crabcakes, and of course pie.

it's almost Christmas!

(Yeah, I know it's actually New Year's Day. Bear with me -- there are a lot of photos to get through!)

We arrived in Minnesota a few days earlier than we normally would have in order to enjoy time with Meredith and Ross before they headed out to Pittsburgh to celebrate with the Polley family. Lorelei loves her uncle and soon-to-be aunt and had a blast hanging out with them.

On the morning of the 22nd, we celebrated an early Christmas. Lorelei got dressed up for the occasion and loved getting to play with all of the things from everyone else's stockings.

Then on the 23rd, my good friend Beth came over to open presents and work on the mystery puzzle (a relatively new McNamara holiday tradition). Lorelei got a pretty cute gift -- and once again wowed us with her present opening skills!

(here's hoping Beth has a few pictures to share -- I know she took some! Hint hint...)

home again, home again, jiggity jig.

We're back in DeKalb and ringing in the new year by unpacking many, many boxes and suitcases. Can't wait to share our holiday photos with you -- especially the ones from my NEW DSLR CAMERA (Jason got it for me for Christmas -- isn't he dreamy?). I already took 500 pictures in two days while I've been learning the ropes. Expect to be inundated!

Here's one cute Lorelei picture to tide you over until the new posts arrive. Happy 2012, everybody!

happy holidays.

We're enjoying the holiday season in MN and taking lots of pictures, but we don't have the ability to post them from here. Expect some fun new posts in the new year -- and for now, our favorite pictures from our family photo shoot this fall!

For more, visit our amazing photographer's website!

standing tall.

Don't worry, you haven't missed anything big -- Lorelei's not pulling up yet. But she can (and has for a while!) completely support her own body weight so long as there's something to balance on, like this activity table we got her for Christmas/Hanukkah. Since we're traveling and don't really have room in the car for lots of toys, we let her open it early :) Love those sturdy little legs and little baby potbelly! Can't believe she's going to be 7 months one week from today...