Christmas with the Families

All the cousins on the McNeil side all together Christmas morning. If you look up on the tree you can even see a picture of Taylor on the tree.

I had photos of all my sister and Jared's kids taken for a Christmas gift by my wonderful photographer friend Lauren Sterling. Let me know if you're ever in need of a great photographer and I'll hook you up.

Mia's new John Deere dump truck towers over all her now seemingly small tractors from Santa.

Every year, after opening our gifts at home we bundle up and head out, usually still very early, and go to my dad and Patty's to spend Christmas morning with them and my sister's family. I am so thankful that we can all live so close to keep up traditions that I've done since I was a small babe. My dad even still makes the same breakfast every year, which we title "Christmas breakfast." It's a time of opening gifts, cousins playing, and taking in the smiles upon everyone's faces as they fill with joy on this wonderous day.

Olivia giving Grandma Patty hugs for all her goodies.

After eating way too much for breakfast, we load up all our new found goodies into our car and take them all home, to then turn around and head to Andy's side of the family at John and Esther's. His sister Jennifer is there every year, and we were blessed to have Aaron and Christy, along with Grandma Bailey with us too this year. Again, it is truly a blessing that we can have all our family close at the holidays. I know so many families that have to choose which family to see at Christmas, and it has always worked out for us since Andy and I were dating. In a few years my dad and Patty plan to move up to Alpena, so we will probably be faced with that decision at that time, but for now, I will enjoy this blessing.

Mia posing with her cheesy smile and new boots from Aunt Jen!

Olivia with Aunt Jen opening gifts.

Aunt Christy, Olivia, and Uncle Aaron

We are so thankful they were able to be with us this year. They really catered to Olivia's mad scientist tendencies this year, getting her lots of science related items like a perfumery (which hasn't turned out to be near as bad as I thought it would smell) and a telescope.

All the Feyes together. From L to R Aaron, Esther, Christy, Grandma Bailey, Amanda, Olivia, Jennifer, Mia, John, and Andy

We had a glorious day to celebrate Christ's birth and were able to do so with all our family. We couldn't ask for more. Mounds of gifts, decadent food, lifelong memories made, truly a day to rejoice.