Banks Christmas 2008

Cheryl hosted this year's Banks family Christmas. The only ones missing were Dawn and Blake, who were sick with a bug. Tommy arrived at the end of the evening. This Christmas we celebrated having another year with Colleen, the marriage of Nick and Loree, and the engagement of Scooter and Courtney. Mike and Cheryl have been upgrading their house with the addition of a wine cellar that Mike built.

Time for Wine This is the table just outside the entrance to the cellar.	The Entrance Doesn't it look inviting? The lighting is low and cozy feeling, even with the chilly temperature.
Vineyard Painting Just like the really expensive places, Cheryl has a fine art piece with a half dome frame embedded in the wall.	A Toast Cheryl poured us all a sample glass of wine and we drank a toast together.
Before and After Billy, Scooter and Lauren look at pictures Mike took before the construction. This used to be the laundry/utility area of the basement. If you move your mouse over the image, you'll see the "before" shot.	Yard Art This little reindeer stands over a group of brightly wrapped presents in the back yard. It's a subtle touch, and so pretty.
Let the Game Begin! This year, we agreed to have no rules for our white elephant gift game. Swap and trade as often as you like until the final gift is gone.At the point this picture was taken, Loree had herself a Dirt Devil. That didn't last long...	The Big Gift Lauren picked out one of the gifts we brought - a giant wristwatch - just perfect for the little girl who needs a not so subtle reminder of how time flies. We actually brought two of these, so since everyone knew what the other gift was, it wound up being the last one opened. You guessed it - we were the ones who took it back home.
Happy Family Loree, Nick, and Cheryl pose for a shot. Since it was the holidays, Nick decided to let his hair grow out until it was absolutely necessary to cut it. He still had a week of freedom at this point.	Coming soon - Courtney and Scooter smile for the camera. They were engaged this year and have a wedding planned for 2009. Can't wait!
Couch Potatoes The game is pretty much over, and Billy came away with a gift that I initially unwrapped - a big ol' Bubba Keg. If Tommy had been here for the game, we would probably still be at it!	O Christmas Tree Just had to post a shot of Cheryl's tree in the living room. It was so beautiful.