Thanksmas and Christmagiving

Dinner. Dessert. Christmas. Family Photos.

Thanksgiving is a very big holiday for my family. It is the one holiday that my Dad's brothers, and their families, are all together. There was always 2 tables. One for the 8 adults, the other for the 8 kids. Now it has become the OVER 50 table, and UNDER 50 table. Over the years we have been very lucky to include family friends, in-laws, and spouses or girlfriends/boyfriends. My deacon uncle says grace reminding us all that Uncle Billy is watching over us and how lucky we are to have each other. We enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, sometimes adding meatloaf or brussels sprouts. Only in my family! Our staple desserts? Chocolate lush, creme de mint, and something pumpkin.

absolutely DELICIOUS cupcakes my practicum mom
made for me. White cupcake with mini pumpkin pie
inside with cinnamon buttercream frosting! Mmmm...

  Because we are only all together once a year, we also celebrate Christmas. For years we did a gift exchange, drawling names the year before (and often enough loosing those names). It was a great laugh to see who would receive the worst give. (These are all things we asked for) The filing cabinet and electric skillet are still tied for first place! We have now all come to terms that we are adults and need to give back. Our $50 limit has turned into a $25 gift card for the exchange and $25 worth of toys for the Marine Corp league's Toys For Tots.

Our gifts for Toys for Tots

Megan, Kristen and I were invited to the adult table this year. They all looked so different under the dining room lights. haha  No shopping? No movie? I felt a little lost.

Our fabulous holiday is not over until all 4 families squish together on the couch for a family photo while the paparazzi snap away with their new and old cameras. We know our yearly routine and still continue to laugh along the way as if it was all something new.











This year we added a Skype chat with our west coast family. It was great to laugh and joke with our cousins as if we were all together.