It always does with my family. My parents and one of my sisters and brother-in-law came yesterday and it was grand! My kids’ Christmas starts about a week early usually and they enjoy presents nearly through the New Year.
Granna and Grandaddy with all the kiddos
The picture with their aunt and uncle did not go so well. Check out BigMan.
Uncle Tom and Aunt Meredith with all the kids
I love cooking for this day. Is that weird? Even this year with so much “help” and a 2 month old.
I just started early. I boiled the eggs and then stuck them in the fridge. I made the cornbread and left it out to dry out some. I boiled the chicken then refrigerated the broth. I boiled the sweet potatoes then waited to peel and mash them. Over and over I would cook a portion and then put it away to combine later. It was all a several day process. And the slower process allowed my frazzled nerves to let the kids help more along the way. And it worked out perfectly. Amazingly. Well, perfectly if you don’t count me forgetting that I set the oven to broil and then forgot about the marshmallows atop the sweet potatoes (but doesn’t everyone like their casserole with roasted marshmallows?). I made the dressing, giblet gravy, the aforementioned blackened sweet potato casserole, freezer rising rolls, sweet tea, and Matt made sugar cookies and chex mix.
Christmas Cookies!
We also had pumpkin, chocolate, and coconut cream pies, a hen, fruit salad, green beans, cranberry sauce, egg nog, chocolate covered pretzels, and coffee. Oh my, the eating!
While we were all doing this in the kitchen:
I love the exchange here between Granna and BigMan
This was happening in the living room:
Sweet Grandaddy and Finalist bonding time
Then time for the gifts! The compromise was that the children must wait until after dinner for the presents but it will definitely happen before dessert!
And while all the older kids were enjoying presents the youngest was enjoying this:
Tell me – how do you balance all the celebrations, cooking, and insanity of this time of year?
girl….a list. actually LOTS of lists. just do whatcha gotta do. looks like you guys had a blast and i love, love that first picture. your family is beautiful. you need one of just the 7 of you before it's over.
i'm such a list person too – love to cross the next one off!
we tried AGAIN to get that picture of the 7 of us. fail. again. no baby's
face at all – one of the other children were in the way. we'll keep trying
though!
What a great day spent with family. The princess and my Sunshine have the same hair-do. She will just love to hear that. Love the dress on her too. Merry Christmas Dear Friend~
With lots and lots of sedating chamomile tea. I drink at least 3 cups before going to the inlaws, it ensures that I'm passive in case mother in law acts up.
Those pictures are so priceless. The one with granddaddy and baby K is just perfect.
i love that constant hair cutting match ups with those two! she was trying
to grow it out, but then she saw an old picture of herself from a year and a
half ago and she wanted that cut SO bad. so away we cut!
the dress did turn out just gorgeous, didn't it?
i love you so much, Merry Christmas to you and yours, thought of you last
night and wished we lived closer we took the kids to the lit up park and
played in the lights – a SO you thing!
it is, it makes me a little cry-y. sweet cry-y.
you're too funny!! i'll have to try that in my trying moments!
I think the only thing that keeps me sane during the holidays is running – a huge stress reliever for me, and my husband…who really is the best help anyone could ask for. He's great! And I am a list person as well…I saw that on another comment. I make lists on my blackberry and then my list goes wherever I go.
Glad y'all are getting to visit with family…looks like a good time! 
Loved your holiday pictures, Suzanne! Slow and steady is a great idea and getting them involved in the holidays while they are younger keeps them interested when they get older
And my, oh my, your sweet baby has grown since I stopped in here last!
Enjoy!
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
lists – definitely!
i ought to run – it would help oh, so many things!
Thanks! I need all the tips I can get on keeping them interested – I love
that you share. You bring such good perspective to my 'early on' parenting
adventure. And he has, hasn't he! Daily.