I have always loved the holidays and being together as one large family! In the 36 years (I do have a few more days until that 37th!) of celebrating with my family it has alway been HUGE! Never just the four of us. Meaning my dad, mom, my sister and I when I was younger . During those younger years it was trips to International Falls Minnesota to be with my mothers family and all the cousins...Yoders and the Smiths. I couldn't wait for those trips and listening to my parents play Kenny Rogers and Dolly on the drive up and back. There was always snow, sledding and enough cousins to play with.
On Christmas eve we would going caroling at the nursing home and return for the traditional home made clam chowder...guaranteed every Christmas eve. All the kids would always be put to bed the same time and good here Santa's bells ringing, then we thought he had come to fill our stockings, but it was our parents/adults ever so quiet doing it. Never heard a peep out of them. When morning came there would be rows and rows of stockings with our names in glitter. We couldn't wait to open them...after we ate breakfast! However even after breakfast there was tradition. Grandpa always read from the Bible about the birth of our savior followed with everyone signing more corals and hymns.
Those Christmas never changed...it was the same year after year. No matter how our families grew and changed over the years, we always knew it was about the birth of our Savior and family.
Then I became a wife and a mother to my family of 5 now. My Minnesota trips don't come as often, but I find myself always thinking about my childhood and family during this time of the year. I was blessed then and even blessed today. God has placed such amazing people in my and in the lives of our family. Family is still just as important to my family, and the celebration of our Savior birth. The only thing different our gatherings happen in Fort Wayne Indiana. Oh the meals might have changed too.
This year we celebrated the Leman Christmas at Ruth and Gary's new home. We all have been gathering a week before Christmas and all stay at one location/home. All 7 cousins LOVE it! It is always packed with fun activities for the kids, games and lots conversations...not sure who carries most of the conversations the men or the women??? Our traditional meal has become an Italian Feast! Okay a lot of yummy eating, laughter and memorable time together. On our last day before driving back to our homes we all attend church together.
Our next celebration was with the Dunbar family. This year we all were blessed with two new beautiful babies! Phoebe and Crew brought the new cousin count to 12! Endless play from new born to 14 yrs of age. Keep in mind 9 of the cousins are 5 years old and younger. It is always fun to spend an entire day together! We all truly enjoy our time together...just being together. Guys watching the sporting events of the day, card games, kids playing none stop, but stopping just long enough for short nap, and us ladies love chatting about anything and everything. The Dunbar traditional Christmas meal has become steak and LOTS of bake goods. In early December who ever can get together to help make and decorate cookies at Mema's home come. We normally make so much that we have to share with neighbors and families and then some!
Nico is one of the cousins not in this photo....he was resting at home with his nurse.
And the celebrations just keep coming...
Crossgrove Christmas is probably the quietest and calmest of Christmas celebrations. It is very layed back with 6 cousins playing and 5 adults watching movies or football games. This year we taught the the older 3 kids how to play the "white elephant" game and how to play spoons. It was hit and I think Jake was the winner of the last round of spoons and everyone won with the elephant games. It is always fun to be with Daddy! Our family traditional meal has become Mexican ... Tim's favorite!
One thing that was different this year for the first time EVER in my life and for my family...
We were home Christmas day!
It was a little different and was not sure what to think about that, but it was such a wonderful day together ... we stopped and played as family and hung out as a family and nothing matter but our family all day long! I think this might become a new tradition for the family since so many of our siblings wanted to be home on Christmas this year.
Here are a couple of those photos...
