Christmas Happenings Around Here - Part 1

If I was a good blogger, I would have done a lot of things differently this December.  I would have posted more affiliate links leading up to Christmas.  LOL  I would have documented our fun stuff, as we went along, instead of throwing it all at you after the fact.  I would have taken pictures of my food and posted recipes.  I would have had a fun giveaway of my favorite Christmas present.

But, I am just me, so, you get late reports and updates on what we did.  And, you get someone that forgets their camera and even when her camera is sitting right next to her, forgets to take the annual here we are in our Christmas Eve finery/standing in front of the tree pictures!

The weekend before Christmas, we took a quick (but long) trip up to Indiana to see some of the cousins.  It was a 10 hour drive.  We went up Friday and came back Sunday.  See?  Quick, but long.

(I just love that 3 of my 4 kids that are in this picture are taking care of a little one...and the 4th is being a goofball in back!)

I will be honest, even though I absolutely LOVE Rainman's family, I didn't want to make the trip this year.  I was feeling busy and rushed trying to get all my "stuff" done for Christmas and spending 20 hours driving to and from Indiana couldn't help me get that stuff done.

But, I did it because I love Rainman and I knew how excited the kids were to see their cousins and their Grandma R.  And, once we had moments like this:

and, especially this one.....

(I love how Grandma R is looking at D-man while we sing Christmas Carols)

.....I knew I had made the right call to head up to Indiana....convenient or not!  

The only bad thing about being around Rainman's extended family and seeing all the kids running around and grown ups just visiting, reminded me of how long it has been since I have been able to be with my family (my mom, sisters, brother, etc.)  for Christmas.  Too long...and unfortunately, too unrealistic of a goal for us (that is an 18+ hour drive for us).

Don't worry, I got all my Christmas "stuff" done though.  I will share the pictures that I remembered to take later!