Christmas 2011

Well it's that time of year again; the time when families get together and also a time to reflect back on the memories of a year past as we ring in the possibilities of another year ahead of us.  For a change my family was finally able to get together on Christmas Eve and although I was exhausted from working the night before provided, we got to spend the afternoon being crazy together.  And armed with my camera I was able to capture many of those crazy moments these silly people I call family provided.  The little guy above, Isaiah, or as his family now calls him, Izzy, loves, and I do mean L.O.V.E.S. to push buttons!!  Not the drive you crazy buttons, but literally buttons.  Grammy often has to reprogram her dishwasher after he leaves and his poor parents have had to reprogram the car radio after he gets out.  But he is so cute you can't help but love him and his button-pushing little fingers.

And then there is Caleb...Jason's family was the first to arrive for the festivities and these 3 played so nicely together...that is until Rachel decided to start opening presents without everyone!  Yep went upstairs for the toys and got a little distracted by all the shiny presents underneath the tree...when asked what she was doing she honestly replied, "Opening presents", as if it was exactly what we had sent her up to there to do....oh she's a sneaky little girl...and I thank the Lord every day for giving her daddy a child who is JUST like him!

I think the below picture is by far one of my favorites. Caleb exudes happiness from every pore in his body!  This little guys smile just spreads across his face and warms your heart.  But the blue-eyed lovely woman next to him...she's a woman full of love and beauty and I'm so proud to call her Mom!  She makes Christmas special for us.

These children love to read books, thanks to their Mommy who also enjoys reading.  And of course, it wouldn't be a get together with kids under-toe in the kitchen playing with their toys.  Isaac had gotten a new Cars toy for Christmas and was kind enough to share with his cousins...what a blast!

Maegan and Elianna...what beauty's!

Somehow Isaiah always seems to radiate towards Papa Smurf.  He just had to open the door and see what Pappy was up to on the deck.  (For those interested Pappy was making his delicious pork tenderloin that is a Christmas tradition in the Smucker house).

Ok LOVE this picture!!  I don't remember what we were laughing about but it was wonderful to watch Mike and my parents work around the kitchen preparing our meal.

Again that cute little Caleb...poor guy has a bruise on his cheek, probably from one of his "loving" sisters.  Watch out for those 2, Caleb, they'll run circles around you!

Mudder always buys these "crack" thingymabobs and they're fun cause they have little trinkets inside.  Mike opened one for Isaiah and following the "grand opening" we all had to laugh cause he creased his forehead and said, "Ow".  Poor guy.

Some of the "trinkets" included paper crowns...uh nice look guys.

And there was more reading...

...a few tears throughout the afternoon (Uncle Jamie has this one under control)...

AND THEN, time for presents!!

The kids all helped Grammy by carrying down presents from upstairs.

Hint...Tip...Words of Wisdom...if you're ever hoping to get a family picture and have everyone cooperate, do it BEFORE opening presents...have no fear, I'll explain later.

Love this cause she looks like she just opened the crown jewels!

They were all so happy with their gifts and I think Grammy did a great job!

Isaiah got the award for coolest gift because they all wanted to play with his toys, the problem was that until his toys got put together, everyone had moved on from their cool toys and were now interested in his.  He just sat by here, patiently waiting for Uncle Jamie to put it all together for him.

But it must have been worth the wait cause he was full of smiles afterward.  Now he has his own steering wheel and maybe he'll leave the electrical reprogramming of the car gadgets to mommy and daddy now....then again, not likely.

And then came stockings, another tradition in the Smucker house.  The kids all had fun handing the "older kids" our stockings.

Rachel, in the true spirit of "helping" at Christmas, had to assist daddy with his stocking, which also included an explanation of everything inside.

I call these 3, the 3 Musketeers...you wait, some day it'll be Papa Smurf, Isaiah, and Toby and if you wanna know where one is, just look for the other 2!

Izzy just cozies up to Papa Smurf...I think they are beginning to speak their own language, it's kinda scary.

And me, I got help from this guy with my stocking...being an aunt is a such a blessing!

Before the invention of electric toothbrushes, we used to always get a new one in our stocking and so the healthy tradition is moving to the younger generation and Jessie was very proud of hers.

Even Caleb was thrilled with his gifts...the poor guy was crying his head off in Grammy's room because we all thought he was sleeping...like he was supposed to be doing.  (But then again if we all wouldn't be such a loud family, maybe we would have heard him...one room away.)

Silly boy!

You can almost hear her licking her chops over the cake pops my SIL Lacey made for dessert...yummy!!  She is always trying new and fun recipes.

And congratulations is in order for these 2 love birds who welcomed baby #4 on December 30 at 1:41 am.  We were thrilled to meet Eva Rochelle Smucker, named after Maegan's mom.  She'll be Evie for short (sorry if I spelled that wrong M&M).  What a cute little girl she is and she fits right in with that Smucker nose...Maegan I'm sorry they all came out looking like their Daddy...but like I said, they all grow into little beauties like their Mommy.

And the Digger family left first...off to all get naps I'm sure as they all looked like they needed it!

And I got a little camera time with Elianna who is just the sweetest little thing.  She instantly performs with "Tease" for every picture and then politely asks if she can see it.  I just had to giggle at her.

YIKES!!

Isaac, I'm not sure how it is that you are 4 years old already and where the time has gone, but my little man, you are such a sweet boy and I'm so glad God made me your aunt!  I love you...

...AND I love all of these wonderful people I call family and I'm thankful for the Christmas memories we made...

...especially these!  And THIS is why you ALWAYS take the pictures before opening presents.  It took several takes before we could convince almost everyone to look at the camera and get a decent photo...unlike the one below (which honestly should have been tucked away in a drawer never to be seen again).  For those interested, this one wasn't rehearsed and there is a reason why I'm missing from this picture....

...because I'm the ONLY normal one in the bunch!! HAHAHAHA!!!  Oh the comments I could make...

Dear Family, get your own blog and camera and you too can post things like this, 

Love, Normal...Sane, ME