McGregor Christmas.

Brett and I enjoyed our first Christmas together in 1993. We were engaged then, and we were still learning each other's family rituals. It didn't take me long to figure out that the McGregor Christmas tradition was a special one. Every year Brett and his parents celebrate the season with his dad's Aunt Norma and her family. Some years we meet here; others we make the trip to McGregor. No matter where we gather, we always enjoy good food and great company.

This year's gathering was in McGregor at Brett's cousin's computer store. Dana and his wife Becky just opened the store this year, and it turned out to be great for our family of surfin' kids:

We enjoyed lunch together and plenty of good conversation:

Then it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Aunt Norma and cut the red velvet cake Nana always bakes in Norma's honor.

After that, Brett and I enjoyed a walk around downtown McGregor.

We got nostalgic when we saw the furniture store's Christmas display. The store has changed owners, but the display has remained.

Later that afternoon we got to see Aunt Norma's new apartment. She's so excited about it, and after seeing her new digs, we can see why! We loved all the pictures she has on her walls, too, including the high school diploma of Papa Bennie (Papa and Aunt Norma's dad and Brett's grandfather):


McGregor's not far from Crawford, now famous because of a certain family ranch there. We didn't bump into the President, but we did see Cindy Sheehan's protest site and a country Santa:

So another McGregor Christmas is in the books, and we look forward to many more!