Christmas In Ilinois 2013

We have started the tradition of going back to IL every year for just a few days.  I say "we" meaning my Mom and I.  This year, Chelsey and her family came with as well.  They had plenty of snow for us!!  I think I was the only one happy about that.  We arrived on Thursday night, picked up pizza from Pizza Joint and got settled in for the night.  

Friday we mostly just hung out, made a quick trip to the store for cheese ball ingredients.  After all, I didn't want Gramma B to die!!  That night was the Whitley family get together.  I love seeing all my family!  We eat to much and talk and enjoy the night together.  I learned my first lesson about talking politics with family.  Love you Aunt Kathy!!  Stayed up watching White Christmas after everyone left.

Saturday is Manary family Christmas.  I always get my Grandma a floral center piece, but this year they were busy doing several funerals so I had to settle for a purple one.  It was still pretty.  Lots of family showed up and we had a delicious dinner including chicken noodles.  (I don't care that you cheated Gram!)  After dinner, we went back to Lisa's and hung out till it started to get late.  We had our annual game of Euker where we were not short on laughter!  I won't go into detail about my whiny daughter (love you Chels), but we called it a night early and went back to Dad's.  Oh wait, this was the night I stayed up watching  White Christmas.  It  all becomes a blur.  

Sunday we had breakfast and then watched Polar Express in 3D on Dad's groovy TV.  This was my first time seeing it.  After, we went to lunch at Red Robin and said goodbye to Jo.  She had an even to attend.  We returned a few things, then back home to pack.  On the way to the airport, we stopped to say goodbye to Grandpa Joe and take a 5 generation picture.  

The flight home was LONG.  First we had to de-ice for 30  min and the plan we were on was seriously cramped.  It was ok though, and we were home by 11 pm.  Brynlee held up really well and did good on both flights.

It's always such and enjoyable couple of days and Dad and Jo take such good care of us.  I love having a little winter weather and reminiscing about the old days.  A tradition I may need to hold on to. ♥

Pre Christmas Activities

December was a flurry of events!

 I held Christmas Bunko at my house.  I love love love these girls!

 While I was visiting in Illinois, our ward had a Night in  Bethlehem Christmas party.  I was partially responsible for putting this on/planning it but was not able to go.  But here's my sweet family in there Bethlehem attire.  Glade sang a song called Let Him In to end the evening.  So sad I missed it.

 Dalin had a concert the night of my other Bunko, so I was only able to stay for dinner before I left to go watch him sing.  He is smack dab in the middle of this picture.

 Rhett's choir was invited to sing at the Temple Lights this year.  So we went as a family and with  some of our friends to view the lights and listen to them sing.  They did so good!  We ended the night with donuts and hot chocolate as tradition allows.  Rhett is the boy with no face right in the middle.  I really have to get better at taking my real camera to these events.:/

 
I missed Stephen's concert when I was in Illinois but got another chance to see him as they performed the Messiah.  These pics are of them greeting the guests with traditional carols as they arrived.

Dalin made the school paper!  Doesn't that look just like him?  Apparently eating fried chicken is a weird thing to do on  Christmas.  Funny that they put some other kid as his picture. 

Had all the kids over for our annual gingerbread house night.  Only this year we did Men.  It was a lot easier on me, but the kids said they preferred the houses.  Ok, next year!

 This was the mess after leaving the kids alone to decorate sugar cookies one night.  Oy.

 Katy brought this home from school.  I love that our school allows them to recognize the true meaning of Christmas.

And of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without a visit to Santa!  Our friends, the Winters, have connections and are able to get Santa there every year.  Amazing how their lists change as they start rattling off stuff.

We also were able to do a few service projects and were the recipients of someone doing the 12 days of  Christmas to our family.  So many fun little things!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning I was a brave mom and sent all my kids with Stephen to Wal Mart to do Christmas shopping for Glade and I.  Usually Glade does this,  but he's been so busy there hasn't been time.  They shopped together and agreed on gifts for both of us.  We then hit Chick Fil A for lunch and back home for final preparations.  I drove to Mom's to get all the gifts that I keep stored there.  Pretty nice set up I must say.   

I got home just in time to start dinner.  After debating about a roast, I settled on ham.  We had mashed potatoes and corn casserole as well.  Brooklyn had a little mishap with the rolls so we had those, but they weren't really all that awesome.  And it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without our fancy table and Martinellis.

After dinner, we gathered to read a book and watch the video O Holy Night.  We talked about service and how we should have that in our minds the whole year through, not just at Christmas.  The best gift we can give our Savior is to treat others as he would.  Serve.  Give what you have, whether it be money, time, love or just a smile.  Give what you can.  

Finally it was jammie time!  We all opened our new jammies and got changed and turned on Arthur's Perfect Christmas.  They didn't last long watching that.  They think its a MUST for Christmas Eve, but they are all big now.  Besides, the little ones were very distracted with the Santa Tracker.  Chelsey and Whitley both needed to head out and so we put out cookies and hot chocolate for Santa and called it a night.  

The kids got there "places" ready upstairs and made promises not to come down before morning!  I was able to get all the gifts in place and be ready for bed by 10:30.  Not too shabby.  You haven't heard me mention Glade because he was not able to join us.  They had to move the bakery to our new bakery and only had a couple of days to get it done.  He tried to get home and kept in touch all day but in the end, it just didn't happen.  He was home by about 11 and was able to be here for the morning. ♥

  Katy got jammies that came with matching jammies for her doll.

Oh how I love this bunch!!

Smith Family Christmas

We always do the Smith Family Christmas the Saturday before Christmas.  Kristi always makes her famous cheeseball and shredded beef.  The cousins draw names and we usually have some sort of Christmas program.  This year no one volunteered or got assigned so I brought my Mary's Treasure Box set and read that to the kids.  Glade also attempted to sing the song he sang at our Ward Christmas party, Let Him In.  I say attempted because he was in tears by the chorus and couldn't continue.  He turned off the music and bore a sweet testimony of the Savior.  The kids love playing with cousins and as always, I forgot my camera, so these are the only pics I have. 

Christmas 2013

Awesome awesome Christmas!  I'm going to let pictures tell most the story.  As always, kids were up BEFORE 5 am, but didn't make the "wake up!" call till exactly 5.  I make them come down one at a time to see what Santa left them and then we all open our gifts together.

 Since we have oranges out the wazoo, Santa decided to put Green Apples in their stockings this year.  They were very excited about that!

 Monster High Dolls

 the family gift - an air popcorn popper.  They can't wait to use it!

 After our big win on our last cruise, I decided to get Glade a corn hole game set.  The only problem was that they were really expensive and I wasn't sure what would be good quality.  So I asked his dad to make him one and it turned out really well!  Glade pulled all the punches this year and got me a 2 night hotel stay with tickets to Mama Mia.  Plus, mom and Chelsey got me new pots and pans.  Love it!!

After opening gifts and a return to slumber (Glade and I), we finally made it over to Mom's for family Christmas. This is always my favorite part.  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas with my kids, but this is usually the time where laughter abounds and tears are shed.  Plus, my WHOLE family is together!

 My Christmas Cookie.  So sweet, you gotta eat!

This was the gag gift of the year.  I really don't like birds.  But while visiting in IL, I happened to see a bright red cardinal fly to a branch right outside my window.  With all the snow, it really was quite spectacular.  But I joked that I would never want one on a card, or picture or anything.  So mom and Chelsey thought this would be funny to give me.  They were right, it was.

After a lovely dinner (I say lovely because my family doesn't really know how to be lovely.  IE: "grandma came in like a wreeeckiiing ball!"), we took Dad's new game outside and played the rest of the day.

We had to bring Jules cuz I didn't know how to leave her at home that long without some sort of trouble.  Grandma greeted us with "Are you trying to ruin Christmas?!"  She was a good dog and mostly just hung out in the back yard.

After being at Grandma's, we left and went to visit the Smith's.  We didn't stay very long cuz we were all so tired and ready to get home, including Jules.  It was a very wonderful day!!