Christmas with my clan

Fun times on the lake!

The gingerbread house turned out delicious!

Blassingame children in the loft of the cabin. They had such a fun time at the cabin - playing games, rowing in the canoe, playing in the woods, and just visiting with family.

Granny and Lauren chatting

Daddy, Loretta and Lindsay

Front porch philosophy

The cabin was so pretty and peaceful and relaxing.

Sisters

Jim and Cat

Newlyweds Lauren and Joseph

Jerry, Rosella and Jay. The children love Aunt Rosella!!

Hule and Loretta

Jeremy and Lindsay

Claire is all smiles next to her stash of presents.

Love this face :)

John had sooo much fun opening his many gifts.

Claire and Ben received Red Ryder BB guns from Aunt Cathy!

Cathy and Anna

Cathy( a huge Memphis State fan) gave Hule ( a huge Kentucky fan) a Caliperi doll stuck full of pins!

I am thankful for Mom and Dad and their 58 YEARS of marriage. Daddy turns 80 in less than a month!

After we open presents we have a little party. Some traditional favorites for this are lime sherbert punch, rotel, cocktail weiners and Cathy's christmas cookies (they did not make it until this party this year - they were all consumed at the cabin)

Ben playing the Wii that the children received from Granny.

Granny wearing her scarf that Anna made and Jenny

I am so thankful to the Lord that He allowed us to all be together this weekend for Christmas with my side of the family. We started the weekend at a wonderful cabin on the waterway. Everyone was able to be there and spend the night. We had such a good time playing games, eating, walking the hills, eating, laughing, eating, watching a wonderful DVD made by Cathy of our family, eating and having a wonderful time! Sunday we packed up and went to Mom's for huge feast and then later that afternoon we gathered around and sang Christmas carols and Anna, Ben, Claire, John and Bailey recited from memory the Christmas story from Luke 2.

We opened gifts and then had our party. We stayed up late visiting and talking and then the guys in the family took Daddy to Pinson mounds on Monday and the girls ate out and played Wii and then tonight we sat outside around the blazing chimnea and talked and talked. As I said before, I am very thankful for this precious time with all my brothers and sister and their families and of course with Mom and Dad. It was a wonderful weekend!!

Ellie's party

Some of the girls playing a game.

Enjoying the tea party

The cake was one of cutest that I have ever seen - a tea pot shaped cake! Hannah baked the top and bottom in mixing bowls and then put them together and added fondant icing for the spout and handle. So precious!!

Party at the Parks

Ken and Amy

Kevin and Rachelle

Kim and Jimmy

Scott and I

The table was set beautifully

We had a fabulous time at the Parks last Saturday night. We had all kinds of foods that you just don't see every day! Kevin's creation of beef Wellington was delicious. The appetizers were enough to fill you up for the night and Rachelle's homemade desserts were extra good!!

Kevin is carving into the Beef Wellington!

Tree decorating time

John is admiring the tree

Here is a yummy treat - cherry vanilla ice cream, ginger ale, whipped cream, sprinkles and a candy cane.

John putting on the angel. We always let the smallest member of the family put the tree topper on.

Ben and John are enjoying the Santa's hats

Mom and I. Mom had gall bladder surgery a couple of days after this photo was taken. Thankfully she is doing OK!

Anna and Claire

Anna has crocheted and knitted about 15 gifts so far this Christmas. Here is one of her personal creations - a cell phone cozy :) She has knitted several scarves and hats as well.

One of our holiday traditions is our tree decorating party with the grandparents. Mom and Dad come down and sometimes Nana and we decorate the tree and then we have Santa's hats and other goodies. The children get new ornaments each year that reflect their interests for that year. Anna's ornament this year is a runner with Spartans XC on the front, Claire's is a porcelin ornament with Brianna's (her new puppy) picture on it. John's is a puppy ornament as well and Ben's is a set of glass fish ornaments. Ben and Scott did not like my new blingy Christmas tree topper , so we have our traditional angel topper again.

Here are some of our outdoor decorations this year.