CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAZIES

Last weekend we gathered all my extended kin folk together at my aunt’s house for our Christmas. We used to do this on Christmas day but with so many of us and we kept having kids…it got difficult. I much prefer the before Christmas celebration. It elongates the festivities! My three cousins and their families, along with my aunt and uncle and all of my family enjoy some good food, laughs and hunting story exchanges if you have testosterone in your system. The kids enjoy some hide and seek and some act wild and crazy time together.

  

The kids all exchange real gifts and then all of us do a white elephant exchange. We’ve gotten better over the years with our gifts. My cousins wife Jenna has started a tradition (2 years running) of bringing animals. I hope I remember next year to notice which gifts come in with her and NOT pick them. Last year we won 3 beta fish. This year she really outdid herself. She brought a mouse. And guess who just had to have it? CALLI! She stole it from sweet little Georgia who willingly gave it up only after Harris said he would go buy her another one. Who thinks that was ever executed? Not me!

Kids from left to right: Georgia (Harris's) holding Charlie (Mark's), Bailey (Harris's), Layne (Mark's), Calli and Colson...not sure where Hudson was.

After a few hours she tried to give it back to Georgia because she realized that it’s chances of staying alive at our house were slim. Remember the hamsters? Harris wouldn’t take it and Mark wouldn’t take it for Layne so we still ended up with it.

Colson ended up with one of the gifts we brought (that he didn't know about). The Santa Snuggie! We fit 4 of Santa's elves in it!

Calli, Georgie, Bailey and Colson

Except for the additional passenger (the mouse) that came home with us, we had a great time. And Colson is ready for Saturday!