Smith Christmas

The holidays are here, and we got together to celebrate with my family this weekend. This year Dad and Chris came to the kids in Minnesota. Thank you for traveling :) Sometimes I still think it is pretty crazy how that all worked out with my brother, sister and I all marrying people from Minnesota and living within an hour from each other and my dad living in Pulaski. Anyway, we started the festivities by going to Lauryn and Miranda's dance recital. Kelsey of course loved it! She was dancing in the bleachers and trying to mimic the dancers. She also enjoyed watching Korinne's facial expressions during the music. Here is Kelsey and Miranda after the girls performed.


We went back to Brian and Molly's and had dinner next.




The kids were all pretty patient and waited until everyone was done eating before we dove into gift opening. We also snuck in family photos before gift opening as an incentive. "If you smile for the picture, you can open your presents." And hey, it seemed to work.

The Skalas


The White's


The Smith's


Grandma and Grandpa with all 7 grandkids--soon to be 8 :)


Brian and Molly's living room floor looked like a wrapping paper explosion when the kids were given the green light to dig in.



We rounded out the night by singing Christmas carols as a family. It just so happened that Day #8 of Chri-Skala-Mas was to sing Christmas carols. Good timing ;)
Kelsey's favorite Christmas carols are Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. She knows almost every word to Jingle Bells, has the Fa La La La La part down in Deck the Halls and knows the chorus of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Once all the kids went to bed, the adults stayed up and played Squabble Scene-It. It was a great day filled with family, laughter, and fun.