Grandpa Ray's Christmas

Molly & Rayleigh showing their Barbie's that

Great-Grandpa Ray got for them

Tucker loved his Transformer & Truck from Great-Grandpa

Jacob, Terry, Lauren, & Ben

Tyler's Grandpa Ray

Conner got a new puppy from Great-Grandpa

He also got a phone like Grandpa remembered

Tyler & Kelsey playing with when they were little

I know that you are asking yourself by now - will their Christmas's ever end? The answer is YES. This was our last Christmas for the season. We all met at Grandpa Ray's house in Columbus for lunch. We picked some Chicken up from Chicken Mary's before heading over, as that is Grandpa's favorite. We met up with Teresa's family (Terry's sister) & the rest of Tyler's family there. Lunch was great, and conversation was even better. Tyler's Aunt Teresa is a physician in Springfield and her husband, Rick, spends his time keeping up with their three children, Lauren, Benjamin, and Jacob (the other set of twins in our family). We actually found out that we were having twins on Ben & Jake's birthday (the year the girls were born) - isn't that crazy?! It's always nice to catch up with their family, and we can usually con Lauren into playing the guitar and singing something for us as well!

Grandpa Ray, the kids' Great-Grandpa, had thoughtfully taken his 78-year-old self to Wal-Mart and picked each of the kids out something special. He even wrapped each of the presents, and personalized each with a card. I am so impressed by him! I wouldn't guess him to be 60-years-old. This was our first Christmas since Tyler's Grandma passed away this summer. The holidays
are never quite the same when they have a hole like that, but Grandpa did his very best to keep his head up, and still made it special for everyone else - that is just how he is - thoughtful.

We ended the day all discussing how we need to get together more often, and that we need to meet at Rick and Teresa's this summer for a pool party. I think I may just take them up on this - and make it a priority this summer. So, Teresa, here is your fair warning. Look out, cause the crazy Harrell family is headed your way!

Harrell Christmas

Molly, Tucker, Rayleigh, & Conner Patrick

Molly, Tucker, & Rayleigh

Tucker wanted to "hold" Conner for a picture

Conner enjoying a bow

Grandma Sherry & Papa Terry

Nick, Kelsey (Tyler's sister), and Conner

Tyler, Robyn, Tucker, Rayleigh, & Molly

THANKS GRANDMA & GRANDPA - I LOVE THEM!

Grandma Sherry is surprised by her picture

Tucker ready to hit the Country Club

Friday morning, we all slept in for a bit until around 9:00 am. It's no wonder after a marathon day like Christmas day. Then we all hopped up, got our showers, and headed for Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa Harrell's house. We got there just in time to smell the rolls finishing up in the oven. We had salad, ribs, baked potatoes & sweet potatoes, green beans, and homemade
rolls. It was delicious!!

After dinner, we took a quick opportunity to catch a few pics of the family, and then it was time for Grandma Sherry's favorite part - PRESENTS! Everyone had a good time opening presents. The kids presented Grandma & Grandpa with a picture of all of their grandkids dressed alike in their Christmas outfits - it was very special. The kids' big gifts were a set of golf clubs for Tucker, complete with bag and all, and the girls got their babies that grow two front teeth, like they had asked for. Grandma made them wait until very last to open them. At one point, Molly looked at me, and asked me, "Mom, is all we're going to get is a bunch of clothes?" I could have died! I was so embarrassed. Grandma finally gave in though, when Grandpa Terry made her, and gave the girls their babies. Molly was relieved to see the baby, as she had not taken any toys to Grandma & Grandpa's to play with for the day - I guess she was banking on getting what she asked for!

Baby Conner seemed to enjoy his first Christmas with us as well. He felt pretty well for the day - he has been battling one illness after another since winter started it seems. He wasn't too interested in the presents (just mostly chewing on the bows), but Kelsey wasn't too disappointed to have some extras to open! After presents, we all just hung out and relaxed and played with our new gadgets. Everyone was pretty worn out and happy to have a chance just to sit and visit with one another without too much hustle and bustle.

On the way home, we had a family discussion about being appreciative and thanking people for anything that they give us as a gift. I guess that we had never crossed that bridge before with the kids - every day is an adventure for sure. Molly wasn't inappreciative for the clothes, I don't
think, she had just been looking forward to that baby for about 2 months (every trip that we made to Wal-Mart). Kids definitely have a one-track-mind when it comes to presents. She thanked Grandma & Grandpa before we left and apologized for making the comment. She just didn't fully understand that that was not nice, but I think she understands now! I guess we've all lived through moments like this as parents (if you haven't, just wait - you will!).

All in all, it was a good day for everyone.

Elbrader Christmas

Peyton, Devon & Jeremy's new little boy

Meghan, Peyton's older sister

Landyn, Dawn & Bill's baby boy

The Harrell kids on Santa's lap (with Grandma Nita, Santa's elf)

All the little ones that Santa came to see

Mom's Brother's and Sisters with their Dad

Crissy's family (Mom's sister): Brooke, Lauren, Crissy, & John

Gayle's family (Mom's sister): Austin, Gayle, & Dave

Dennis's family (Mom's brother):

Back row-Debbie, Peyton, Dennis, Devon, Jeremy, Meghan, Dusty, Bill

Front row-Dylan, Daci, Grandpa, Landyn, Dawn

Our Family: Back-Carrie, Tyler, Robyn, Dad

Front-Molly, Mom, Rayleigh, Grandpa, Tucker

Grandpa & all of the Grandkids & Great-Grandkids (David & Ryan are not pictured)

Last stop for the day . . . Neosho, Missouri. We got to Grandpa Loyd's around 5:30 pm, just after dinner, and just before "the big fella" arrived. Most of the kids enjoyed Santa this year, still a few little ones scared of him. Dawn's baby, Landyn, and Devon's baby, Peyton, both celebrated their
first Christmas this year with the family. Everyone got to be there this year except for Michelle & Jeff's family. They took a trip to Colorado to ski over Christmas this year. We missed them in the family picture - we usually capitalize on the opportunity to tease Jeff about messing up the picture. One bad picture, one year, and you are scrutinized for life! It's never an easy feat to get so many people looking at the camera all at once, SMILING, where you can see everyone, with the camera on a timer, and my dad pushing the button and "sprinting" to the open spot left for him, just in time for the picture to snap! It's usually my hardest laugh for the day!

Anyway, everyone really enjoyed great conversation this year. With life as busy as it is, it is nice to slow down every now and again, and catch up on one another's lives! We usually only get to catch up with Devon's family about once a year, and so it is always a nice treat to see them. Devon is my age, and growing up, we had a lot of fun together at Grandma & Grandpa's. Usually we seized the opportunity when we were little to beg at the end of Christmas evening to spend the night with one another (and usually, we won). Tucker and Meghan, Devon's little girl, seemed to be following in our footsteps - they had a blast playing with one another that night. All of
the kids played so well, in fact, that it just made for a really nice evening. Brooke & Lauren enjoyed the babies - they are so helpful with the little ones. Lauren also put on a little gymnastics display for the girls before we went home. She is a great little gymnast.

Our Christmas fun came to a close around 11:30 when we finally arrived back at the homestead, safe and sound, and exhausted. The kids entertained Aunt Carrie all of the way home in the back of the Denali though. One would think they would fall asleep after such a busy day, wouldn't they? Not mine! They were just testing her patience - getting her ready for student teaching next semester!

Chalk it all up to a FUN, FUN, FUN-filled Christmas day!

Thomas Christmas

Conner & Tucker

Tara, Casey, and Boogaloo

Wayne (Sherry's brother), Tara, Casey, & Julie

Terry & Sherry's family

Kelsey (Tyler's sister), Conner, & Nick

Kylie, Gene (Sherry's brother), Cheryl, & Kayla

Larry's (Sherry's brother) family

Hillary (Larry's daughter) & Kye, Kade & Taylor

Braden & Brittany (Larry's daughter)

Grandma Bome & Grandpa Charlie - responsible

for this whole mess!!!

Tucker played his new guitar for everyone

Nancy's family (Sherry's sister)

Great-Grandma & Grandpa with all of the Great-Grandkids

(Chase was already gone by this point, so he is not pictured,

but everyone else is there!)

We got to Altamont around 1:00pm. Of course, there was more food than 3 armies could eat, but we managed to do our best. Meats, potatoes, veggies, appetizers, snacks, desserts, you name it, we had it! After dinner, it is our tradition to get family pictures. We all come in from all over the place, from Virginia, to Oskaloosa (north of Lawrence), and everywhere in between. But everyone got to be together again this year. We all, of course, had one special person on our heavy hearts this Christmas, Tyler's cousin Craig, that passed away in an accident this past year. This was our first Christmas without him, which without a doubt, leaves a hole, but it also reminds us that there are greater rewards in store for us some day. We are all very confident that Craig enjoyed his first Christmas in Heaven, in the presence of CHRIST, the whole reason that we all gathered today to begin with!

Next year will be a new look for us, as Wayne's family (from Virginia) and Nancy (from Oskaloosa) are all moving back home to be near the family again! Grandpa & Grandma's house has always been so open and inviting to anyone, that it is no surprise to me that they will have all of their children back at their doorstep once again within the next year! How wonderful that
everyone can be back close. It's like the living story of the Prodical Son! Thank God for FAMILY!!

Each set of Great Aunts and Uncles feels the need to see that none of the great nieces and nephews get left out (they are all quite deprived) so they each showered the little kids with a gift. Great-Grandpa & Grandma took their part in the spoiling as well. The kids love it (almost as much as the adults)!

By 5:00 pm, we had to be headed on to our next stop . . . Grandpa Loyd's (Neosho, MO), here we come!

Christmas Morning

Molly & Rayleigh putting Baby Jesus in the manger

in our front yard before Midnight Mass

Looks like Santa found our house ok

Tucker's new jeep

One quick pic before ripping in!

Yea, it is my red DS (Rayleigh)

Look, Rayleigh, I got one too!

My guitar, just like my daddy's!

Look, Daddy, I can help now!

The girls love their full length mirror for the

back of their door in their own room.

The kids woke up about 8:30am (most would consider this sleeping in on Christmas morning, but keep in mind that they didn't go to bed until 1:30!). They couldn't wait to get downstairs! I thought Molly may bust-a-gut she was so excited when she saw the tree! They were in total disbelief, and ready to find that special gift! They couldn't wait to rip in!

Tucker immediately hopped in his "Boy Barbie Jeep" and started spinning the wheels on the hardwood floors. The girls snooped around until they spotted the perfect sized gift for their special treasure hidden in the branches of the tree! Santa had tried to trick them, but he is no match for those sharp little girls!

They spent the morning ripping and tearing, and squealing, and ripping and tearing some more. It was a good time had by all. The big Santa gifts this year for the girls was their Nintendo DS's (Molly's pink, and Rayleigh's red) and Razor scooters. Tucker's was his Jeep and an acoustic guitar (like his daddy's). From Mommy & Daddy, their special gifts were a jewelry armoire
and full length mirror for the girls' room and Lincoln Logs & a "big boy drill" for the little man.

Tyler got me an iPhone, which I love, and I got him a new fishing rod & reel that it has still been too cold to use, but I am sure that he will love when he gets a chance to use it.

Next stop . . . Grandpa & Grandma Bome's house. Altamont, here we come!

More Alloway Christmas Pics

Our cooking aprons that Grandma made

Matt proudly displaying the first t-shirt that he

ever got in wrestling (that started this whole quilt)!

It is beautiful!