Christmas at the farm

After a few lovely days together at home, we headed up to my parents' farm. It always feels good to be there for Christmas. The weather was crazy warm...40s!...so it wasn't a white one, but it sure makes driving more pleasant! Our first day there was mostly a quiet one with Mom, Dad, & my sister Chris' family. The kids played...

& played...

& snuggled...

& played.

They helped me make some more of these fun reindeer cookies. We had so many chocolate pretzel snitchers that we had to have both bucks & does, though. :)

Over the years we've developed a plan for feeding the 30+ people who stay together over the holidays by each family taking 2 meals to plan, cook, & clean up. It makes it fun & a lot less stressful. ( I still do most of my prep before we ever arrive since our kids aren't big enough to be non-guided helpers, but they're growing! ) Plus, we get to enjoy some not-so-standard favorites.

I've also started the tradition of making a Cousins Memory game that the kids can play every year which is always a hit. It has a picture of each of them with their name at the bottom. Since there are 23 grandkids & we're spread across the midwest, it's also a helpful name reminder especially for the little guys!

Teresa was amused by this talking Santa, "The magic of Christmas lies in your heart." She would push it about 10 times in a row & then run away with her hands over her ears. Guess she didn't know when to stop! "Getting 'nnoying," she said.

Vacation is a good time for napping, right? More fun to come!