The best time of the year. A time to celebrate our Savior and reflect on Him and His life. A time for togetherness, shopping, pageants, plays, feasts, the theatre, and family.
My sister TerriLyn has taken up crocheting and made us all stockings this year. We all had input on what we wanted. Me, I wanted something kind of feminine that would go with everyones. Mason wanted one like one she had made for someone else. Travis was very perticular about the colors and what he wanted and where they were to be on the stocking. Aunt TerriLyn got it right on. Chuck, he just wanted to make sure it was BIG. Joe was even thought of and Santa even brought him a treat.
This Christmas we were fortunate to fly to Spokane and visit my family. We figured it out and this was the first Christmas all my siblings and I were together in ten years. It was a chance for Mason and Travis to meet and get to know cousins they had not met. A chance for us siblings to hang out and share stories of old times and strengthen family bonds. A chance to make more memories. Lots of games were played and puzzles put together.
Let's talk about snow
. Boy did we have snow. And more snow. Oh, and did I mention that we got snow? Chuck was able to experience his first "White Christmas" and Travis got to build his first real snowman. Someone needed to tell Travis he could use more snow though. There was plenty to go around.
. Boy did we have snow. And more snow. Oh, and did I mention that we got snow? Chuck was able to experience his first "White Christmas" and Travis got to build his first real snowman. Someone needed to tell Travis he could use more snow though. There was plenty to go around.
Chuck learned the art of clearing snow and ice sickles f
rom the house roof and Mason tried his hand at shoveling snow. Well, a lot of us had a turn at shoveling snow. Thank heavens for the neighbors snow blower that cleared the sidewalk between my sisters house and the house we were staying at (thank you Natalie) and gave us a shoveling guideline for each following snowfall.
Cousins built a great sled run in the front yard and uncle Kent got cleaver and built stairs up the side to make it easier to get to the top. There was even a jump at the bottom. Travis loved "getting some air".
It was fun to see how much Wes and Amy's kids had grown since they moved back to Washington from Texas. I got the biggest kick of Alex yelling for his dad. "Da-Yee! DA-YEE!" We sure do miss them hanging out at our place on the weekends.
We got a chance to spend some time with Jared and Sarah and boy did Jace grow since we saw him at Thanksgiving. What a cute family. (Jace has found his voice!)
rom the house roof and Mason tried his hand at shoveling snow. Well, a lot of us had a turn at shoveling snow. Thank heavens for the neighbors snow blower that cleared the sidewalk between my sisters house and the house we were staying at (thank you Natalie) and gave us a shoveling guideline for each following snowfall.Cousins built a great sled run in the front yard and uncle Kent got cleaver and built stairs up the side to make it easier to get to the top. There was even a jump at the bottom. Travis loved "getting some air".
It was fun to see how much Wes and Amy's kids had grown since they moved back to Washington from Texas. I got the biggest kick of Alex yelling for his dad. "Da-Yee! DA-YEE!" We sure do miss them hanging out at our place on the weekends.
We got a chance to spend some time with Jared and Sarah and boy did Jace grow since we saw him at Thanksgiving. What a cute family. (Jace has found his voice!)
My sister Wendy and her family.
They were so gracious to let everyone celebrate at their house. What a cute little family.
My sister TerriLyn and her family.
The kiddos are all so cute and smart. And Reagan, he looks so much like Travis it's a bit weird! (In a cool way.)
Getting a picture of all 27 of us looking at the camera at the same time was a chore. I don't think we ever got it perfect. With 15 kids under 16 it's next to impossible. 
We loved being with my family this Christmas and will miss them at Christmastime next year. That is unless I can talk them all into coming down here for a Texas Christmas. (hint hint)
