Second Christmas -- House is Packed and I LOVE It.

Well, it is family time and I am oh so ready.  I LOVE the holidays and especially when given the chance to fill the house up.  Jen's family is the first to arrive today and within no time there are games being played, food being prepared, and visits all around.

Late in the evening Jen and I make a trip to the airport and Rhiana arrives with Kasey and the girls.  NOW the house is definitely full.  We have thirteen in our little 3 bedroom home.  Yep -- bodies are strewn everywhere and I am in heaven.  I LOVE having family all around me.

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Today is our Christmas and I am so excited.  It is morning and I am up cooking for a crowd.  Oh man does this bring back memories.  Malea wakes before her Mom and thinks Bekah sleeping on the couch is Mama.  It's pretty funny as she keeps on petting her and playing quietly beside her.  Soon, my kitchen is full of my girls.  Wow does this feel fun.  Three generations and all the girls in the fam right here in one shot.  Nice.  (Why is that cupboard door open?)

Feeding this many people in my small house means shifts unless we want to set up all the tables first thing.  It all works though --- we just rotate through and soon everyone has a happy tummy.  Jen's family is in need of a family picture so their family is soon working on showers and dressing for it.  The bathroom fills will teenage boys and I am amazed once again at the memories of my own teenagers cramming themselves into the one upstairs bathroom to prepare for events.  It seems like yesterday and yet they now have teens of their own.  Wow.  

Soon Mister is off with them to see if a picture can be gotten today.  Our day is pretty overcast and not very warm, but perhaps a miracle will happen.  Miss Elena wants to be part of it, but waits patiently on the front porch watching to see just how it all works.  She spots me taking a few pictures of my own and flashes me the perfect smile and the perfect head tilt.  Yep, she is her mama's daughter.

Within moments, there is an audience for the photographs taking place.  I love shooting Mister as he is shooting others.  Sometimes, I think it is a much more fun picture.  How about you?  I guess the front yard is not working well because the next thing I see --- set movement.

Let's try again:  I think I like this one the best.  Mister still needs to work on developing it more, but it has promise.  Getting seven people to all look the same way at once and position them so that they look like they like one another is tough.  We may have to do a reshoot.

This picture of Bekah is awesome though.  Gotta keep it.

Elena has been watching and waiting patiently for a chance to get into the pictures.  Finally, her chance arrives and Bekah shares the moment with her.

Do you think Elena should get dressed?  She gets a chance for her own picture and sure enough -- patented head tilt.  Way cute.

It's time to gather everyone back into the house for some "family time."  Hey, it's Christmas after all.  Yes, there are some girls in the house and it's so great to get shots of them together.  Bekah is being a wonderful cousin to these little ones and they adore her instantly.  Louis and Jared share a few fun moments as well.

It's a great time for everyone and definitely time for presents.  I am so excited to give some gifts in person.  Malea is the youngest and so gets to play Santa and deliver the gifts to each person.  She does such a great job -- even with the really big packages.  The only thing really confusing for her is remembering who is who.  Lots of new names for her.

After delivering all the gifts, she also gets to open first.  Now let the fun begin.  Jared lends a hand to get the idea planted.  These moments are so treasured by me.  I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves through this section.  I mean, really --- they speak for themselves and show the fun we are having.

I guess it is time for the grown ups now.  I get to finally give one of my quilts in person to one of my children and it is the one she loved oh so many months ago.  I think she is surprised and that makes me feel so good.  This has been such a rewarding year for me and I have learned so very much along the way.  Thanks to my childrens and grands for accepting my practice pieces as their gifts.

I made the boys a couple of hats and they humored me by putting them on.  Great guys.  I know those hats probably are now consigned to a "what was she thinking" box,   Yep, I remember those from older people in my family too.

And another quilt.  Yes!  This one really shows that I have made 30 this year and it is the last one.  I'm finally getting it all figured out.

A few treats for me as well in addition to all of the wonderful pictures we received on Christmas Day.

I guess it is time to get this group fed again.  Goodness, where does the time go?  This day is going by way too fast for me.  I want it to slow down and last for a very long time.  These boys are really wanting me to have a larger table.  They do not wish to be part of a "kiddie" table any longer.  Since they are taller than me, I guess I get that.

After dinner, it is time to say good-bye to Jen and family as they have to return to Abilene tonight and that is a long drive for them.  I really don't wish for them to leave, but since it's not up to me, it happens anyway.  Now we are down to just Rhiana's family for the night and she and Kasey are leaving first thing in the morning for their trip to Mexico.  Malea had fallen asleep earlier and so she wakes while we are visiting and has herself a late night snack before we all head to bed.  Tomorrow will be an early day for Mister, Rhiana, and Kasey.  The girls and I will get a bit more sleep but our adventure with two little ones in the house is just beginning.  And yes --- I am loving it already.