We had a bunch of people for Christmas Day.

There were too many of us to fit at the dining room table, so Mom and Dad set up long folding tables in the downstairs family room so that we could all sit down together.

This is Mary and Bill.

Kathy with her mom, Dorothy, whom I call "Nana." The Italian side of the family. Last Christmas, Nana was in the Mayo Clinic, and we didn't know if she'd live or if she'd have her own personality back or what. And here she is, very thoroughly Nana. Her sister-in-law Jenny was also there with us. Aunt Jenny is a stitch. My grandma would say she's funnier than a crutch. Well. Much funnier, I would say.

Grandpa with Al. Al is one of the folks' oldest and best friends. His wife, Vicki, and his sons, Ryan and Jason, were there, too, but none of the pictures of them came out, and I figured, better not to show them than to show them badly.

Somebody must have been funny. My money's on Kathy, but it could have been someone else.

Did I mention I got neon moose socks for Christmas?

I said Mom was big on posed group pictures, so here we all are. Having a merry Christmas.

Then we went on to Milwaukee the next day.