The Day After Christmas...

As I do EVERY year on the day after Christmas, I arrived at Target at 7am! I know it sounds crazy but the deals are way too good to pass up. It allows me the opportunity to stock up on wrapping paper, gift bags, stocking stuffers and Christmas ornaments at 50% off! It's a great time to shop because it's not like the day after Thanksgiving, the stores are much less crowded and you don't need to park your car 2 states away. I assume that this is because most people are still recovering from Christmas the day before. Nonetheless, this year I was on a bit of a mission for my sister, who was traveling early that morning to Michigan for a wedding of a close family friend. She tasked me to find and buy her 3 items: a card holder (to display her Christmas cards in), a pre-lit Christmas tree and wrapping paper. Well at least I accomplished 1 out of 3 and bought her plenty of wrapping paper.  I found a lot of great finds and even got brand new flannel sheets for our king sized bed for $9.99.

Additionally, in recent years, on the day after Christmas, we gather with Todd's other side of  the family. This is his dads side of the family (not to be confused with his moms side that we celebrate with on Christmas Eve). This year was the first Christmas without Grandad (he left this earth on April 6, 2010). We miss Grandad very much but we know that he is in a much better place now and is reunited with O.B. and Sasha.

We reserved a room and met at Sycamore Glen Retirement Community; this is where Granny lives. There we gathered with Todd's uncles, aunts (uncles wives), cousins, cousins spouses and all of their children. We typically meet around 1pm, eat lunch and hang out for a few hours. Of course we ate lots of yummy food and delicious desserts and we catch up with some of the family we haven't seen in sometime. Stella loves meeting up with her 10 other cousins, hanging out and playing with them as sometimes this is the only time she gets to see them all year.


Granny and Jonah (her 12th great grandchild).

For most of this side of the family this was the very first time they met Jonah. Some of the family lives out of town, out of state or very far north. Of course Jonah was loved by all and had a great time too!

Jonah is now Granny's 12th great grandchild and 5th great grandson. Initially the boys took the lead but in recent years the girls have pulled ahead. We will have to see what the numbers look like after Jen and Tyler (Todd's sister and brother in law) have their twins this summer. I'm secretly rooting for the girls to remain in the lead.





Jonah and Mandy.

K.T. showing Granny her horse.

Hank giving Granny some art he made for her.

Pheobe and K.T. get in on the action with Lexy, Susan, Greg and Elayne.

Elayne and Jonah.



Uncle Pat and Mandy.

The wonderful part about Christmas is it allows us to gather with family sometime whom we haven't seen in some time. Christmas is also a time that I find myself pausing to thank Mary for the wonderful gift she delivered to us on Christmas. It's in these moments that I realize how lucky and blessed I am!

Here's to many many more Christmas's surrounded with family and friends!