Wow...that is a lot of stockings!!! It was so great having everyone here over the holidays this year. With 14 people and a dog in our house, it was a little crowded, but everyone was very flexible and we got along just fine. We were once again hit with the stomach flu, but even though it was miserable for each person that got it, we were still able to fit in a bunch of fun stuff. Thanks to everyone for being understanding and helpful.
We played LOTS of games over the break. Here is an early photo with Megan and Geoffrey playing a game with Evan. They were the first ones home.
A shot of the family room before all of the stocking were up and when it was still pretty clean. :)
One of the things we tried to do while everyone was here was to get a family picture. We decided we would just take it after church when everyone was in their church clothes. There is a nice wooded area behind our church so that was our plan. Well, we should have had our clue as we gathered that the sun was a little bright. Look at Nate in the above photo!!
This one was pretty good, I thought, but Nate was hiding in the back. :( We decided we would try again at home sometime.
Here are Marc and Alan spending some quality time on Marc's phone.
On Christmas Eve we decided to take another photo. Nate just happened to crash on the couch before the photo shoot. We thought about leaving him here for the family picture, but his sisters decided a shot with them would be good enough.
Here was our second attempt ..... the photo we eventually put in our Christmas card. What a handsome group!!
Tracey, Chuck, Kaci, Nikki, and Grandma Foulk joined us on Christmas Eve for dinner and to do the traditional nativity play. Here are a few shots of the crew that night.
From another angle
....and another.
We exempted married couples from the play this year. We still had plenty of helpers (though one little shepherd was not overly thrilled to be there)
Wise men: Nikki, Kaci, and Nate
Joseph: Alan
Mary: Megan
The Angel: Geoffrey
Shepherds: James and Evan
Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus
Also, on Christmas Eve, Grandma opened her gift from the kids. We all made a square for a quilt with our name and a picture of some thing that reminds us of Grandma. It turned out pretty cute and I think she really liked it.
Almost filling up the stairs on Christmas morning...SO FUN!!!!
The first place we all go upon coming down the stairs on Christmas morning is to the dining room where we check to see if baby Jesus has arrived. During the month of December we put pieces of straw in this little basket for good deeds that we do. Our goal is to make the basket a soft bed for baby Jesus' arrival.
Next, we all head into the family room to check out our gifts from Santa. At our house, Santa does not wrap the gifts he brings. Gifts that we give each other are under the tree and wrapped, but Santa's gifts are just displayed by person (or sometimes couples) in the family room.
Alan looking pretty happy
Angry Birds PJs...YES!!
Lots of fun things for little boys
Ahh yes, nothing like a gift card to put a smile on your face! Right, Nate?
She really did like her things, I think?
The Robertson Family
Ginny got a new bed. Looks like it was a hit!!
Not sure which gift this smile was for, but we will definitely take it!!!
"And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk..."
Alan checking out his stocking
Jim, Emily, and Stephanie
Nate....ready to do his famous flying money trick
Marc and Evan checking out some of Ev's loot
Another family shot
After the Santa gifts, we headed to the living room to open gifts from each other
Can you see the anticipation in that face?
Ginny decided to join us and found a comfy spot.
After opening gifts we had our traditional caramel bundt roll with eggs, sausage and orange juice. Later that day we went to Grandma Foulk's house for a big Christmas dinner. It was delicious as always. We didn't know, at this point, that the sickness was about to begin in earnest. Alan had thrown up the Saturday after they got here and James had his turn on Christmas morning. I think we were all hoping that the little guys wouldn't give it to us older people, but we were unfortunately wrong. Marc got it Christmas night, and Janelle, the next morning.
We tried to go on with our plans with some people just having to miss some things. Our plan for the day after Christmas was to go see the new movie, Les Miserables. Janelle had to miss it, unfortunately, but the rest who had planned to go were able to make it. It was a wonderful movie.
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We were supposed to travel to Pennsylvania to spend the day with our good friends, the Kunz family on Dec. 27, but the sickness made that impossible. We were not sure when another person would come down with it. I was so disappointed that this visit didn't happen. For years, we have spent New Year's Eve or at least some night during Christmas break with the Kunz family. We play games, do a fondue dinner, and just catch up on what's happening with our families. Milan was called as a mission president four years ago so we have not done our get together for three New Years. This was to be the first one since then. I missed seeing our sweet friends so much.
So we kind of relaxed here at home, played some games and had a recovery day. That night, the family headed over to the church for some basketball and then we came home and played some really fun "Minute to Win It" games that Emily had put together for us. Here are just a few of the crazy pictures from that night.
Yes, that IS Steph with pantyhose on her head trying to knock down water bottles...
...with an attitude shot just for fun!!! (She got them all down, by the way)
Emily giving us our instructions for the next game
Such willing participants!!
Marc and Geoffrey doing the "Tipsy" challenge
Geoffrey was one of the few that didn't get the stomach virus during our time together, but he nearly lost it after this challenge. Too much soda in too short a time...but check out the two cans standing at an angle....pretty cool.
Janelle doing the "How many penne noodles can you get on a piece of spaghetti" game. She won it....
...though Steve put up a good fight.
Geoffrey wasn't actually playing for a team, but tried it on his own and did great!!
Megan and Nate did the "transfer M&M's with a straw" game. I think Nate won that one.
I love this shot of Steve with all his daughters. He looks so happy to be with them.
Here's Evan trying the pantyhose/water bottle game...he got them all, too!!
Nobody got sick on the 27th or 28th and we had a lot of fun together on those days. The night of the 28th we went to a lighted hayride at a local farm which was really fun. The little boys especially liked it!!
Heading out on the ride....The Robertsons
Stephanie, Steve, and Evan
Megan, Emily, and Jim
Alan, enjoying the music and lights
Jamesy liked it, too
After the hayride we took the whole family out to a Chinese dinner. The food was delicious and Grandma joined us, too. After dinner, "the boys" headed over to the Moorestown chapel for some basketball action. Basketball from 10 - 12 pm...gotta love it.
...and I'm sure they did!! Notice who is the tallest these days :)
But alas, the sickness was not done. Four people woke up, throwing up, that night. Sorry Stephanie, Megan, Nathan, and Scott.... :( By the end of the week, the only one's who didn't get sick were Steve, Jill, Geoffrey, and Emily. Certainly not the way we wanted it, but considering all of that sickness, we amazingly had a really fun time together.
On New Year's Day Steph and Marc suggested that we go bowling. It was a GREAT suggestion! I think that both adults and kids had a great time and we got some fun photos, too.
Alan ready for his turn
James being a big helper
Aunt Stephanie with James
James taking it all in .....
....and then getting into it, too.
Having so much fun watching
I don't know who took this last photo, but I thought it was a good one to include. I have no idea how many Rook games were played over the break, but they were very numerous and many went late into the night. We played tons of other games, too, and just plain and simple had some great times together. I am so thankful for the efforts people made to come here, be helpful and patient, and just generally be such great people. We have truly been blessed with a great family, and it was so nice just to be together and enjoy each other for a whole week.
Thanks everyone, love you all, and have a very Happy New Year!!!
