Every year for Christmas eve we go up to St. Anthony to my mom and dad's house, and by we, I mean everyone in our family. It is really nice to have all of us there, but it is pretty crazy. First of all we eat, of course, and then we all go out into the living room and we all have prepared a little thought or song or something to present to the family. Then we all get in a huge circle and play the right left game. Mom writes a new story every year to tell about the events that have happened that year. It gets pretty crazy with all of us. Mom takes GREAT care in picking out presents for all of us that she knows we will love or something we need. It is kind of crazy, because I think she listens all year for hints and writes them down as soon as you say something. So, when the story is over, the youngest (whoever doesn't freak out when they have to give their present away) opens their present. The person who it belongs to usually figures out it is theirs before anyone else and so they usually go get it pretty fast. Then that person opens his or her present and it continues like that until everyone has gotten their presents opened. After those are open, we exchange gifts with the person from the family that we drew. The adults draw couples and the kids have a separate drawing for them, so they opened those and of course everyone loved what they received. Then this year mom and dad handed all the grandkids their presents and they opened all of them at the same time and then the adults did the same thing. This year for our present from mom and dad, they had some pictures taken of them (by yours truly) and I must say they turned out pretty good. So, they made a little book of quotes and pictures and they are such an amazing gift, mom is always such a amazing gifter for sure.
Lydia, Brayli, Kinlee, Kaden, Carter, Dax
Tracy, Kayla, Brycen, Linda
Brian, KaReena
Ashlin, Cindy, Jerika, Syndey & Kelsie
Me, Cody, Jerika, Rylen, Sydney
Tragen, Peyton, Luke
The Grandparents
Mom made blankets for most of the grandkids this year and they were pretty excited. Look at Jerika's face, I think she was one pretty happy camper. I don't know what her fedish with cows is, but whatever rows her boat, I guess. She really did like her blanket and that is what matters.
Kinlee's blanket had frogs all over it, and you can't tell she is excited either. My kids are so funny about blankets, they walk around the house with them all the time. So, they were really happy about getting new ones to drag around.
This is the mass chaos that is left after all is said and done. It looks like I got a picture of Ray's boot too.
Shelby & Anita eating, this picture is a little out of order, but sometimes, that's house I roll.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!
