Happy 2008! Sorry it has taken so long for us to post...we just got home! I'm sitting here with my cinnamon hot chocolate (with left over holiday marshmallows my kids haven't found yet!) and Shane is playing his fishing game on the Wii...so I'll make an attempt to sum up our holiday! Sorry, but this post is LOOOOONNNNNGGGG! And it has a lot of my family in it...yay for those of you that know them, and sorry for those of you that don't!
So...we took off for Dallas on the 20th...to spend Christmas and New Years with my family. We haven't all been together for the holidays since I was pregnant with Rylie...so we were all very excited! There are 19 of us in all now! 10 kids and 9 adults...and we all stayed at my parents!!! It was CRAZY and AWESOME!!!
The kids loved the plane ride...Shane and I were glad it was a direct flight!!! Especially with the 9 pieces of luggage we had!!!
So, after we spent an awesome time at Kari and Rick's (yes, they live about 30 min from my parents, and they still moved in for the holidays!) we headed out for the BIG FAMILY PICTURE! It was FREEZING and WINDY!!! But, such as it is, here we all are!
Here is my family...Kelsey, Kari, Donny, (a crazy space where Katie should be...no that wasn't planned) and me, with our parents!
Here we are with our spouses...one day Donny will have one...and she will be cute!
That night was my parents Christmas Party at church. There is a holiday talent show for the entertainment each year...so, no surprise to those of you that know my mom, she signed up the whole family to do what she called, "a production number"! Shane and Donny got to be trees! It was actually really good and more fun than any of us wanted to admit to mom at the time! It was good to get to sing with my sisters and mom...something that we only do at the holidays and at funerals...crazy I know!
Can you believe that we got all the kids ready for 8:30 church...and we were on time! (No, we didn't plan the outfits...sisters just think alike!)
Donny brought his airsoft rifles...the boys loved shooting them! Shane, Rick, Donny, and some of the little boys went out shooting "each other" a few times...they had a blast!
Santa made a surprise visit! The kids loved it!
For those of you who know my sister Kelsey...this is her with her daughter Samantha...or shall I say mini-Kelsey! They are exactly alike!
Our family on Christmas Eve! We always have a huge turkey dinner and then do a little program that ends with the story of the birth of our Savior. The program was fabulous this year!
On Christmas morning, my mom always used to make us line up on the stairs for pictures before we could go see what Santa brought. Sorry to say for our children, the girls and I have carried on the tradition! Another tradition we have carried on is "the piles"! Santa leaves each child a pile of presents with his or her own wrapping paper. Then, the kids open one present and we take turns all around so that we can see what everyone got. Believe it or not...all 10 kids took their turns! They were great!!!
Look...it's two Rylies!
Mason can't wait to dig in!
More games for Parker's Wii!
The day after Christmas, all of the girls went shopping...of course! First we went to Sam Moon...for those of you who have been there, I need not say another word! Then we went to the mall and took the little girls to Libby Lu. It was Rylie and Sami's first time there. They wanted to be "Rock Stars"! They loved being pampered!
Rylie, Paige, and Sami...our little Rock Stars! (Rylie and Sami thought they were Hannah Montana...thus the additions to our favorite songs on this blog!)
Kelsey, Kari, and Kristen...I do believe that this picture was taken after Shane and I beat the girls and their hubbies at the Newly Wed Game! (We weren't the big winners however, my aunt and uncle...who actually are pretty newly wed, won the whole thing!)
For Kelsey's Birthday we took her to the Texas Roadhouse. This is her with Mike and the twins (I think Gavin is next to Kelsey, but I'm probably wrong)!
She didn't know that she'd have to saddle up! 
Me and Kelsey...in case you're wondering, she's older...she just turned 30 you know! (ha!)
Rylie and "Codeman" (Cody...Kari's youngest)
Grandma spent the day making gingerbread cookies with the kids! She had aprons made for each one of them! I don't kn0w if they put more candy on the cookies or in their mouths!
On New Years Eve, we have a tradition when we're at my parent's house that we get in the hot tub. This year was no exception. It was freezing outside...but all the kids got right in. The crazies even jumped in the swimming pool...every one of them! (Rylie and Cody stuck their feet in the shallow end...everyone else went off the diving board!) The adults got in after we got the kids to bed...around 1 a.m.! No...we didn't get in the pool!
Me with mom and dad...next to the fire of course!
Donny, Kari, and I...Kelsey and Mike left a few days before New Years.
Yes...the Bills Family still bangs pots and pans at midnight! Very OBNOXIOUS and LOUD...but there is no other way to bring in a new year!
Unless, you are toasting...with Martinellis, of course!We had a great holiday! Now back to the rat race!
6 comments:
Kristen,
Wow! You guys know how to celebrate! Your blog is so cute, I might have to steal some of your ideas for mine! I am glad you guys had a good trip!
The Livingstons are pot bangers too. I wish I could have been with my family for Christmas. Looks like you had so much fun. We too had to line up to come out on christmas morning and I too make my kids do it too.
Cute pictures!
it's crazy how much alike we are!!! I'm definitely going to save my Rylie for your little man! The whole mission thing won't be a problem, since she isn't allowed to get married until she graduates from college...another "Bills Tradition!"
How are the Livingstons doing? It was nice of you to tell them hello for me! Will you get to be with your family next year? We alternate...although the 3 before this one were at Shane's parents...just works out that way sometimes! Good thing I love them!!!!
Happy New Year!
That was a fun post to read! Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you all had great time. Isn't it great to have the whole family together? We had all of my family together this year too- it was awesome!
HOW FUN! You and your sisters are so dang cute! I'm glad you're home though. Oh and like Liza said, we had to line up on Christmas morning, and this year I let them slack on it. I was too tired. Anyway, I loved the post! Call me later, we need to do something fun!!!
OH AND DONNIE IS A POOP FOR NOT CALLING ASHLEY!!! ;)
Post a Comment