Christmas, Take III

Before I begin, I feel its only fair to warn you...there are a significant amount of pictures here.  BUT, when you consider that I took 331 on Christmas Day, it doesn't seem like so many.  Hey, just be grateful I am not in your family, in your face.  :)

As its been for most of the years of my life, Uncle Lee and I started Christmas morning, together.  When I was little, I would wake up super early, always well before the sun and he would tell us stories until 6 or 7 am when it was ok to wake up the other adults and get the party started.  What I didn't realize when I was six is that those story hours were not stalling time to get to the good part of Christmas, they were Christmas and are now the sweetest of memories.

Now that I'm older, we still sit with each other in the early morning hours, but now we both have a cup of coffee in hand and we both tell stories.  Good stuff.

Eventually the kids found their way down...

 They were so happy to see each other and start in on playing, no one was concerned about starting stockings.

 Speaking of stockings....we had a boys couch

 ...and a girls couch.

 After a break for a crazy-yummy brunch, we started in on presents.

 This is me trying out my new Macro lens (for close ups).  Thanks Shaun. :)

 There was a steady flow of food

 Later, we did the adult exchange.  The 16 adults pick names.  There were some fun twists this year which made for a lot of laughs.  The make-your-belly-hurt, give-you-a-headache kind.  :)

This was the wrapping paper for my gift.  My brother-in-law pulled images off of my blog and printed them onto paper.  So special!

 My cousin, Dr. Melody and Shaun had a keen time talking Statistics.  They were talking each others language and we so happy to have found a kindred spirit.  Most of the rest of us steered clear.  :)

 Later in the evening, we did our talent/variety show, which each family presenting.

 This was Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree aka Johnny.

 This song required flashlights, which the kids were thrilled about.

Shaun's brother and family came later in the evening and my on-the-go niece let me snuggle with her for a couple minutes.

I might say this every year, but this was really such a great Christmas.  The day felt like we were floating down a lazy river, meandering through the day in whatever direction it took us.  It was refreshing to be with a group of kids who were more concerned with being with cousins than what presents they were getting.