I LOVE Christmas! Christmas starts for me with the first celebrations early in December and lasts until we have gathered with family in Kentucky and exchanged greetings, prayers and each other's presence! This is our traditional Family Christmas picture. We were missing Josh and Kristen who were in Kansas, as well as Scott and Christopher Green who are on mission in India with future husband, Nick, of our own Alyssa! (They were officially engaged just before Christmas and have set THE DATE for July 10! We are all excited because it gives us a great excuse to gather again!) Where will be put five more in the picture next year? Wherever, there is always room for one more in our family!
This is taken in my parents' living room with a tripod and timer (Kristen, we really missed you!) Mom and Dad are in the center, seated holding their two GREAT-grandchildren! Me and my three sisters are directly behind them while our one brother, Chris is positioned behind me.
We always have a blast taking this as we laugh and shuffle around trying to get where we can all be seen! It is truly a hoot!
Adding two grandbabies to the mix certainly was a recipe for excitement this Christmas! Landon is certainly "talking" lots more...he had to really increase his intensity, volume and quantity to be heard in the roar of all of the conversation going on around him. With cousin, Annaleigh, and 20 more people on site, the competition for attention was steep! There certainly was never a dull or quiet moment! I lovingly deemed them Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seus. I thought it was kinder than Tornado.
What fun we shared just focusing on being with each other this year! For the first time we did not exchange individual gifts. The grandkids pooled their resources to purchase something for Granny and PapPaw and one another while Granny and PapPaw provided a shutterfly album documenting their story from their birth to present! It was a huge hit!
This was easily the best gift of all time declared by the grandkids! Every one was pouring over the pictures that told the story of Alberta June Whitt and Burl EuGENE Barker's births, marriage and additions to their family of five children who became the Barker Bunch! And then we have done all that we can to ADD to the clan with our own spouses and children! There is always room for one more!
We are delighted to be able to share memories and moments that make our history together as a family unique!
Looking forward to a lifetime more full of many more precious and priceless moments and memories together!
