Fleetwood Christmas Wednesday 12/21/11

I love my family.  Sara got home about 2:30 and the festivities began.  She, Becca and Riley and myself started making cookies as soon as she wrapped and put gifts under the tree. Soon, Carrie and Phillip got here  and joined in the cookie show.  Olivia wakes and starts making cookies with Uncle Phillip.  Then,  Mark wakes up to a very loud cooking  kitchen.  Later, Drew is helping Olivia. Clint and Anna get here and take pictures of Olivia helping in the kitchen. Before, the last  cookies came out of the oven, Carrie and Sara started our Indian Supper.  The guys were sitting at the table making Lamb Ka bobs, kids were running in and out and Mark was building a fire in the pit.  It was wonderful chaos.  I was a little concerned about the girls' supper plans, ,but it turned out great.  Olivia and I even enjoyed our first lamb.   Finally time to give the kitchen a rest.  It had been working since early this morning.  We gathered in the den where I read "One Solitary Life" that Durwood reads to our Sunday School class every year.  Then, we all joined Olivia as she sang happy birthday to Jesus.  Time to open the gifts and laugh.  Becca and Riley handed out the gifts one at a time and we watched as each sibling "got the joke" that was their gift.  Years ago the adult kids realized  that none of needed anything. So, they decided to have fun for Christmas with  the  Dollar store being the store of choice. Every gift had a family story behind it, with each trying to buy the best/worst gift. Mark and I buy random stuff all year from all of our festivals and trips and I put them in a basket for all of the adult children. Drew is back home and we are thrilled.   His gift pulled at my heart string and made me laugh and then cry, .  It was so sweet.  Leaving a mess in the den, we all go out to pit and sit around the fire until the rain runs us in. We stayed  up too late.  I really enjoyed watching our kids enjoy each other. We hope that all of your families have a merry Christmas.