So I'm not smart enough yet to upload my pictures last to first. Now the whole night is backwards, sorry!
Every year on the Saturday before Christmas, the Smith family gets together for dinner and a gift exchange. We always go to Kyle and Kristi's where they make a crazy good roast and we all add to the feast with some other dish. The younger kids all draw names and this year, with the older ones, we did a gift card exchange. They all brought a gift card then they played the dice white elephant game to swap them. I think it was a success! In the last couple of years, we have implemented a program. This year Amy's family was in charge. Her adorable little ones sang Silent Night and she read a really sweet story. After, we all sang carols together. It was very nice. Then came the chaos of 15 kids all ripping into the long awaited gifts. All the mom's are trying to take pictures, the paper is everywhere. Kids are squealing and running to show the mom's who are trying to take their pictures. It's all quite crazy. Wonderfully crazy. The joys of a large family, truly.
This is the dice game. If you roll doubles, you can switch with anyone you want to. When time is up, you get whatever you have in hand.
Bo is thrilled and he's not even sure what it is!
Rhett got Pokemon. Shocking!
Bo, Dalin and Kelsey all sharing a paper to sing with. Bo can't read.
Katy still doesn't quite get that there is something inside. She was very happy to sit on hers.
Amy leading Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
Katy trying to do Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.. too cute!
Best cousins Kenzie and Brooklyn.
Branson, Shyann, and Trulie singing Silent Night.
"Sleep in Heavenly peace..."
My darling Bo!
I was across the room zooming and caught this. Is there any more typical "brother" scene. By the way, this did end with a punch in the arm!
Kylee and Whitley. This is one of the few of Kylee. Most of the night she had a pillow over her head everytime you tried to take a picture.
I'm pretty sure last year Dalin was wishing for his two front teeth as well. Someday.
Silly girls. The big ones started and the little ones followed.
Kathy and Hailey. Kathy looks amazing!
Kathy and Hailey. Kathy looks amazing!
Bo loves Kamry. She wasn't loving the very long hug though.
Nick and Stephen waiting by the food.
Angel and Chelsey. This was only one of the several shots of these two. Most were with their tongues hanging out or eyes rolled back. Great girls.
Pre dinner snacking.
Kamry, Christian and Katy. Look at him sharing! These kids, all of them, play so well together. There is hardly ever any contention.
Angel and Chelsey. This was only one of the several shots of these two. Most were with their tongues hanging out or eyes rolled back. Great girls.
Pre dinner snacking.
Kamry, Christian and Katy. Look at him sharing! These kids, all of them, play so well together. There is hardly ever any contention.
Whitley and Brooklyn. I'm so glad my kids actually like each other!
6 comments:
Wow, that looks like so much fun. Such a beautiful family!
big families are the best during the holidays.
Thanks Laurie, you're sweet. You got some really great pictures...I wish I could find my camera so I could see what I took. Grrr.
We are having our big get together tonight with Dave's family! It is always a little chaotic, but fun. I loved seeing your pictures. It looks pretty calm there, but I liked the description of the actual opening of gifts! My favorite is Bo's look of absolute joy at his gift...whatever it was!
That is such a fun Christmas Sunday! We had ours with Jake's family last night but you are so good to already have yours posted! You have the neatest family! I like the dice game idea.
How fun! The kids are all getting so big and are so beautiful and handsome. Merry Christmas!
Les.
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