Christmas Family Gathering

Lots of family, lots of food, lots of fun...

Grandpa is draped in the new silky, soft blanket we bought him!

Laura had a paper-pencil game for the grown-ups to play...

then, there was more "present opening"...

Kayli's exhange gift did not arrive on time for this event, but coincidentally as we arrived home tonight, I saw a large package sitting on the porch. Kayli was almost asleep, but with the meer mention of a package to open, she sprang to life, and was ready for action!

Her cousin, Sean, from Washington, had her name, and sent her this totally cool "Photo Barbie" that is actually a camera IN a Barbie! You take the picture and it shows up on Barbie's t-shirt!

 what'll they think of next?!

 

 

A Very Merry Christmas

And ohhh so exciting, starting on Christmas Eve, just before church, I let Kayli open her big gift from me...

so dressed exactly alike, Kayli and her doll, went with me to a totally awesome Christmas Eve (late afternoon) candlelight service. Later, at home, we enjoyed a Christmas Eve feast for two.

This morning, when we came downstairs, we found Tayli (our elf)  having a tea party with some of Kayli's "friends". So, tonight Kayli decided to finish the tea party, since this will officially be Tayli's last night in our house this year. Yep, Tayli has to head back to the North Pole. Kayli made sure to write a letter to Santa to make sure that Tayli will always get to come back to our house and be our "forever elf!"

later, it was time to put on jammies, and settle in for a good Christmas show before bed...

then it was time to sprinkle the reindeer food on the front lawn, and set out the milk and cookies for Santa...

and the next morning we came downstairs to find that Sant'a had left some really great gifts under our Christmas tree...

some sweet treats in our stockings, and some bones for Sprinkles...

and, after all the gifts had been opened, we discovered a hidden box with a message from Santa that read...

and as we raced to the garage to look for Tayli, we found her proudly seated in this totally awesome Barbie mustang!!!

Kayli was speechless, and so was Tayli!

Ohhhh man, this is a Happy Day!!!

And as I opened the garage for Kayli to take her new vehicle for a spin, we saw tiny bits of snow coming down from the sky! Brrr, it was a cold day for a convertible, but mabe just a spin around the cul-de-sac...

then, we need to get ready for stage two...a Christmas dinner and present exchange with all the cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandpa...stay tuned.

 

 

 

Another Successful Grinch Party!

The annual Grinch party has become a long-standing tradition in this family. I started this extra special holiday fun about 14 years ago! Every year, at Christmas time, usually on the weekend before Christmas, I would send out my annual invitation that would look something like this:

the parents came in for a drink and a snack, then headed out the door, leaving their children with me. Each year I plotted and planned the fun. I bought Grinch trinkets, snacks, games, and presents. The Grinch party goers were all my nephews, beginning with Matt, Adam, and Colin, then adding Jake and Nick, and eventually Sean and James just had to come to KC to see what all the fuss was about! All those boys, all these years, so much fun, so many memories! Then, as life would have it, two sweet girls were added to the mix. Two little girls joined our families through the miracle of adoption. My sweet pea, Kayli, and Eileen and Gary's daughter, Anna. The boys continue to love this tradition, but the difference is that the little girls have a sleepover, and the "big boys" all head out...maybe to another party, maybe home to catch up on their sleep, but not after joining in on the "cousin only" fun of joking, laughing, eating lots of sweets, hanging out, and now we've added a Christmas light tour, and a hot-tub grand finale! Here are a few of the group pics over the years...

 and some candid shots from this year...

the Christmas lights tour...

and believe it or not, we actually ran into Santa along the way...

back home for the Grinch showing...

Suzanne gets to count as a kid, and come to the Grinch party, since she is not a parent. Sprinkles singled her out and soaked up all her attention!

 

I made sure to wear my Grinch slippers...

most of the participants chose to take a dip in the hot tub...

Colin just pulled up a chair...

the girls were diving and swimming like this was a pool...

the crew stayed til' nearly midnight this year! Everyone, then headed home, except for Anna, who stayed for a "sleepover"...

...until next year, Grinch lovers!