Amazing Family Christmas 2015

Finally the day arrived for us to go to Atlanta for our Christmas holiday.  Tuesday before Christmas our car laden with presents, ham, potato salad, turnip greens, corn, and a cheese ball followed the now very familiar route to spend the holiday with Amy, Darryl, and Amelia AND Darryl's brother Dayton and his wife Daphne and older kids Cameron and Savannah AND Darryl's sister Ashley and her little girls Madison and Avery.  (Ashley's husband, Wayne, is pilot on a tug on the Mississippi River and had to work Christmas.)  I have to admit that we were excited and a little nervous.  In the past we have enjoyed a few social occasions with Darryl's family, but to spend several days and nights with all these people was going to be something new for us.  I need to mention that their home has five bedrooms and five bathrooms so it wasn't going to be one of those visits where people are sprawled everywhere trying to sleep.

We arrived fairly early in the afternoon making better time than usual.  Amy and Amelia were attending the Nutcracker at the Fox theater downtown.  Darryl and a friend had flown to Las Vegas for a night.  We brought in presents and food and settled down to rest until Amy and Amelia got home.  Then we went to Burger 21, a new to us burger place, for hamburgers and sweet potato fries.  I love Five Guys, but this one is going to place above them.  The hamburgers were very good and the sweet potato fries were delicious.

Love this picture of Amy and Amelia at the Nutcracker.

Wednesday was spent grocery shopping and making final preparations for the others to arrive.  Bubba put up some towel rods for Amy and Darryl arrived home from his outing.  Late that afternoon Ashley and her girls plus Dayton's daughter arrived after being in horrendous traffic.  Amelia was so excited to have cousins to play with.  We had Bubba's ham with potato salad and fresh turnips for supper.  The girls played and giggled and had such a good time.  At one point I saw a mermaid with a sword, chased by a power ranger with a gun, chased by a nightclub singer with a light saber, who were being chased by two barking dachshunds who, according to Amelia, were going to be married later in the week.

'Twas the night before Christmas

Thursday was rainy and chilly,  Darryl invited allowed Ashley and me to accompany him to Costco.  Darryl is an excellent shopper and doesn't get impatient.  We split up and went in different directions.  I found a couple of things and on impulse, bought a huge chocolate Christmas cake.  I asked if they could write "Happy Birthday, Jesus" on it and they did while I waited.  When we got home, Amy was putting sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator to chill.  Later that afternoon, Darryl's brother and his family arrived.  That night Darryl grilled steaks for our Christmas Eve meal and as usual, they were the best!  Later when we were ready for dessert, Amy put a candle on the chocolate cake and the group sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.  The cake was delicious and I think that impulse was a good one.

I wonder what they are planning.

Amy works frantically making sugar cookies for Santa.  (Hers are soft and mine are crunchy!)

Five Sweet Cousins

We're following Santa on Norad site.

Paw-Paw wishes they had this when he was a boy.

Amelia is calling a leaf mistletoe and wants a kiss.

Christmas morning didn't start terribly early.  Darryl made the girls wait until everyone was ready to see what Santa brought.  Amelia got several Lego sets, a Princess Leila costume and an interactive Yoda.  Bubba and I really racked up.  Bubba got a heated throw, which he is under right now, a belt, steak knives, dark chocolate, a new outfit, and a self-portrait tile and mug from Amelia.  I got a long, warm black sweater, a laptop bag, a cross body purse for our trip, a light rain jacket, a yarn headband and a self portrait mug from Amelia, and the most incredible measuring cups in the world.  (I always say that you can't have too many measuring cups or measuring spoons, but now I have a top of the line set with odd sizes in it like 2/3 cup.)  Amy and her sisters-in-law seemed to appreciate the cookbooks I had made them.

Amelia helps dad open present.

Yes, this is my son-in-law.  Don't you love his festive
Christmas attire?

Amelia and Avery play with Yoda.

Princess Leila and a Power Ranger and Savannah

Darryl's sister, Ashley models some of her Christmas.

This is Amelia's self portrait.  I have it on a coffee mug.
I love it!  I see a little bit of Picasso coming out in her.

Amy always gives Darryl one of these calendars
for Christmas.  I have no idea why.

Amy had prepared breakfast casseroles, biscuits, and sausage for breakfast.  It was so good.  We had a late lunch of Turkey, Dressing, Ham, Sweet Potato Casserole, Creamed Corn and lots of desserts.  At this point, Bubba and I napped.  I don't know what everybody else was doing.  That evening Amy, Ashley, and Daphne had a girls night out and went to the movie.  

Saturday morning, we all got up, got ready, went by Chick-Fil-A for breakfast and went to see the new Star Wars movie (even Bubba).  Amelia is really into Star Wars now, much like her mother was in 1977.

Yes, Amelia wore her Star Wars costume to the movie.
I've heard that the camera adds 10 pounds
and I think excessive sunlight adds 20.

After the movie we went home and snacked on leftovers and everybody headed out shopping.  Bubba and I went on our own because we knew we would get tired sooner than the others and we did.

The next morning (Sunday), we all began packing and getting our things together to head home.  We were the last to leave and were excited to have Amelia coming home with us.  Our first stop coming home was at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

This holiday was an illustration of how much fun you can have if you step outside of your comfort zone.  We thoroughly enjoyed spending the holiday with our family and with Darryl's family.  It ended up being a comfortable fun time for us.  Amy and Darryl were sweet to take us all on and we certainly appreciate their hospitality.

Thank you all for a great holiday!