Christmas in Bama...

A few days after Christmas we packed up and headed south. All of Ben's siblings were going to be there for Christmas this year, and we were so excited to see everyone. We didn't go down last year for Christmas, and Ben doesn't go with us usually in the summer because that is the VERY busy time of year for work, so for him it had been a year and a half or two years since he'd seen some of his siblings. Luckily the flight down went off without a hitch. Our kids are pretty experienced travelers at this point in their young lives, luckily. But we always have about a two hour drive from Atlanta when we get there, so that usually puts us in pretty late. Everyone was asleep when we got there (we were the last to show) so the next morning was filled with lots of loves and hugs and always some wrestling and just playing and laughing with the cousins:

I don't know how we got so many little blondies in this family!? (although in this picture, they all look dark!) :) These cute girls were quite the pack this trip down. They're finally getting to the age of playing together.

Uncle Preston loving on some Jackson...

The two oldest grandchildren, playing with Jackson, the youngest. I still can't believe these boys are this old and big now. Where has the time gone???

Grandma's beautiful tree...

I brought a good ol' southern holiday banner with me: 'Happy Holiday's Y'all'

Since there was only going to be one or two days with everyone there, we did Christmas right on that first day we were there. Grandma did the traditional Nativity story:

While Alex read it from the Bible...

Cute Everett:

And Elijah:

And Jonah, one of my favorite little kids ever:

Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without Grandma playing the piano and Aunt Meg singing:

Then the chaos began! And when I say chaos, I really mean chaos! 16 grandkids, 13 adults and loads and loads of presents! It's hard to keep it under control:

But everyone has such a wonderful time! We are truly to blessed to have this wonderful Alabama family of ours! Full of so much love and laughs and friendship. 

Jackson with his cousin Josh. Josh loved him some Jackson!

I think this guy had a thing for his Aunt Meg! (who wouldn't!!!???)

Uncle Jeremy was really enjoying the festivities:

After the kids went to bed that night, we did the traditional adult Chinese Christmas. Jeremy with his awesome Twilight trilogy game:

Grandpa with his new Elf boxers complete with jingle bells!!!

We got this frame that one of Meg's patients from the ER made out of burnt matches. Truly a treasure!

And Meg will never have to clean her ears again with his Wax Vac:

Even Zoe got a gift! A new hat and scarf!

After the Christmas festivities were over, we had the whole rest of the week to just enjoy one another, shop, watch football, go on Nature hikes, play with our new toys and lots of fun stuff!