Family Christmas Fantasia

It was my family's year to be together for Christmas.  It was a week of craziness and love and so much fun!

Lindsey and I were on food shopping duty.

 On the phone with Mom/Dad getting the last few additions to the list.

 Seriously?! We were a site to see in Walmart. ha!

Since all the girls were home, we went dress shopping with Lindsey.

 Reise liked all the sparkles!

 The dress shopping crew (minus myself and Linds)-

Christmas Eve- we had a fun field evening with loads of food, presents and laughs!

 

 Merry Christmas babe!

One side of the over-filled food table...

And the other side...

We L.o.V.e.D. all the niece and nephew time we got all week.

 Tanner the always smiley baby!

 Mom, Reise, Lori & Dad

Santa even came to visit and everyone got the chance to sit on his lap.

 Santa was a funny man with Jarad

 And was pretty nice to me too.

The kids were so surprised to see Santa and loved talking to him and going through their stockings.

Then Santa had to be on his way...

 He's got some serious moves that Santa!

Parents are hard to buy for so this year I was crafty for the Moms.

 Thanks to Pinterest for the idea and my Mom-in-law for the vinyl (little did she know I was making her one too) and my bro for cutting the wood.

The one for Jarad's mom.

 Christmas morning just before church~ it was really neat to have Christmas be on a Sunday and it really helped to remember the real reason for the season.

 Jarad getting some uncle time with Reise

Lindsey's fiance came to meet the family for the first time- and he fit right in!

Mom let us do a little Elf on the Shelf magic for the little ones- this was one of my favorites.

Could they be any cuter?!

As usual, we had girl's craft time. This year we decided to make quiet books- which was a way larger undertaking than we had planned.

 Melanie was the super sew-er!

 Me & baby Reise- all smiles.

We also usually do some sort of service project when we get together. Everyone chipped in different items and we put together some hygiene kits for a local women's shelter.

 The kids loved helping stuff the bags. Jordan and Mel workin' hard.

 Audrey and David hard at work.

Sadly, the week ended all too soon and the California-fam had to leave. :(

 Us saying goodbye to the little ones.

 Jarad getting some Tanner time- he loved being upside down.

We also had to take Lindsey & Dan back to the airport.

We had a fantastic week full of family fun! And can't for May to come so we can all be together again for the wedding.