Holiday Hussle

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas!

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CHRISTMAS PART 1

Christmas eve in our family is spent with my in-law's. We always have dinner and exchange gifts Christmas eve, which is wonderful because my side of the family always celebrates Christmas day. So Christmas eve at Auntie/Uncle Frank's we had dinner around 4:00. Afterwards there was lots of coffee and chatting. Then it was on to the annual game playing. Auntie always comes up with crazy games to play all awhile competing for prizes ranging from simple little salt/pepper shakers to gift cards to places like Macy's or some local restaurant. This years games consisted of the marshmallow toss game (see how many marshmallows you can get in a stocking that is hung), a fun story telling game (see who could remember the most as each member adds a different line), and a toss around game where gifts are passed from left to right while a story is told until the story ends. The one holding the gift wins. But the best game is always last. It is game with lots of prizes. It's a simple game where cards are passed out to each family member and as each card is read aloud (i.e. Queen of Hearts) whom ever has the card that is read gets to pick a gift from array of different wrapped prizes. You can either pick from prizes still left OR you can steal someone elses. Once the cards are all read the game is over and you get to unwrap what you chose. Some people end up with several gifts some end up with just a couple (as I did this year!). It is too much fun!

After playing some of the games Auntie, Kimmy, and I headed outside to the gazebo where we had a "yule log" to light. Uncle Frank got it going for us and we spent a good 45 minutes outside warming by the fire. It was a bittersweet moment, one that I will always remember.



We finally made our way to the gift exchange in which my kids were spoiled. I mean how can you not with two little ones as cute as this...


We made our way home some time after midnight. The kiddos where done in, especially my oldest. He had a melt down just as we were finishing up opening our gifts. I didn't even get to see what Kimmy & Kevin got. We had to scoop them up and get them home.

This is the only decent pic of the kids in their cute Christmas PJ's. That is a tradition I started with Camden's first Christmas as a baby. I buy them both new Christmasy PJ's and this year they looked so cute! They had on cute slippers, too! They were on the move too much to wrestle them down for a good full length shot. Oh well.

Well that was the first half of our Christmas. I will save Christmas day for tomorrows post. More pictures and more holiday festivities to come.

Before I close, I ask all of you to please pray for baby Stellan over at McMama's blog. Little Stellan was taken to the hospital tonight. Not too many details right now, but you can check her site for updates. Thanks friends. Until tomorrow....