To Grandmothers house we go!!! and everyone elses, too

Every Christmas season our family has a tradition of a traveling dinner. For those of you that aren't familiar with a traveling dinner it's simply an evening of traveling from house to house gorging yourself with delicious food. Also it gives us an opportunity to see each others decorations. Years ago Fred's family had this as a Christmas tradition when I came on board. It was way fun. However with six brothers and large families it became to crazy to get to everyone's home, let alone fitting over 50 of us into our houses. Fred and I later adopted this as one of our own little families traditions. This year we began at Matt and Jess's home for yummy appetizers. It was all sooooooo good. I could have been happy to stay behind and just fill up on those. Good job kids, they were scrumptscholesent (family word)!!!!
And of course no meal is complete without a beautiful salad. Missy is always the salad master. At each home we have to remind ourselves that this isn't the main course, so try not to fill up on that particulair item. Or what the heck eat as much as you want, that 's what I do.
The fun thing about this year is the best gift that this Grandma could ever have. It's the two new little cuties! Adam and Lily, what wonderful little additions to complete our family.
Well it's time to move on to the next house. That would be Mom and Dads home for the main course. When Fred's family did this dinner his Mom always had the main course, but it consisted of German food, as she is German. I cooked the German meal a few times but it way too much work. So in trying to keep with the whole international theme now we have French dip sandwiches. Hey it's foreign!!!





Finally to the best part of the whole evening. We head to Grandma Haws house for desert and gingerbread house making. This has become a favorite activity for the kids. And this year, fun fun for Grandma and Grandpa as we got to take care of the babies while the parents designed their houses. Nate beaming from ear to ear, quite proud of his masterpiece. Matt brought some of his own materials for his plan. If you look close enough you can see his landscaping design. He created a licorice tree. He had thought about this all week, nice addition Matt.

The big question is , "how many Hall's does it take to fill a decorating bag". Really though, good team work!!!
At the end of our busy evening, of eating and eating and designing a little sip of the good stuff is always in order. What were you thinking? It's IBC rootbeer.
The best part of the entire evening is being together as family, enjoying each other, laughing, eating good food, and getting caught up in the spirit of the season. The holidays to me are all about family. Building memories, creating traditions, and strengthen bonds that will last through the eternities. It's always interesting to me as a missionary Mom, the peace that comes as we are all gathered together as family and one is serving our Heavenly father. I miss Steve but always receive a felling of joy in knowing that he is doing the Lords work. And as stated on a plaque that sits on my mantel, a missionary is someone that leaves his family for two years, to teach others that they can be with their families forever. That's what it's all about is family, and nothing makes me happier than to be with mine that I love