Celebration 1

My and Bill's kids, our GrandLoves and us, had our annual Christmas celebration this past weekend, this time at my son, Dustin's home.  He and his wife had 14 sleeping over already, so we stayed with my daughter Darcie and her family only 10 minutes across town.

The only snow we saw, or a slight ' likeness,' was this Creamed Cheese Italian Seasoned Snowman that rode to the party between Bill and I.  He was a hit, with a row of crackers around him.

( OK, I dropped my camera for the ump-teenth time, so

please excuse the lack of clarity of my pics.  )

 There was SOOOOOOOOOO much food., sorry, no pictures.  There were appetizer trays, cookies of every imaginable kind and Cho. Truffles, cheese and deli meat trays, those bacon-wrapped little sausages, marinated & grilled venison slivers, chips and dips.

And, if that wasn't enough, out of the oven, Dustin's wife, Steph, pulls out not one, but two pans of the best homemade Lasagna, Garlic Breads, two kinds, and a huge mixed salad with her own Home Ceasar Dressing.

There's more.  Special for the kids, she made Penne Pasta with two kinds of sauce, plain and meat.  The hostess with the mostess is the gal in the blue stripes sitting on the stairs in the next picture.

 The youngest kids draw names and open gifts from the youngest to the oldest.  There were gifts exchanged while all the little ones gathered around to watch and approve.  Some of the parents are in the background waiting the adults turn to play a gift exchange game....  There were 19 of the 23 of us at the party.  It always seems so different with some missing.  This time it was Andy and his 3 boys that were so very missed among the crowd.

 Christopher with his Perplexis with Grandpa Bill looking on

My daughter, Darcie's boys, Christopher and Austin, watching Uncle Billy master the ball.  Darcie is in the background.

 GrandGirls being silly.  Alyssa, Chloe, Ryele,

Megan and Katie

 The older kiddos, Chloe, Hannah, Josh, 

being grateful for money instead of a gift they 

didn't want....I remember being a teenager.

 Christopher getting ready to try out his new snowboard...

 Megan loving her fashion set that the girls all played with in Rye's room for hours.  The little boys ruled the basement rather rambunctiously.  Little boys! 

 ( no pics of them, Grams was not going down and up two flights of stairs.  )

 Sweet Katie turning herself into the sweetest ' gift '

Cousins, ' hanging out ' in Rye's room 

 Lil Megan.....her mom said, " Don't let that sweet smile fool ya~"

 Ryele entertaining Grandma.  Very nicely done Ryele Girl.  She's a Rock Star!!!

Finally, hide and seek and too tired to move.

It was a great Christmas weekend with our GrandLoves and our kids.  Besides all the kid fun, the guys played cribbage and us gals all finally had the chance to just ' catch up.'  

There was NO outside time, this time, for it was raining...

It's getting harder and harder to get everyone together in the same place at the same time.  Everyone has such diverse lifestyles, so busy with their kids and activities.  When we do get together, we all treasure every second and hold each other close.   There are always lots of laughs, hugs and way too much eating.  Awwww, life is sooo good!

God Bless Your Christmas and

May it be a White One

Blessings