Friends, you know that gathering was at the forefront of my mind for the entire months of November and December.  Mostly I talked about all the ways we have “gathered’ when we couldn’t be under the same roof.  

This year, as everyone knows, we had a full house for Christmas and for two whole nights all of our kids slept under one roof.  Pretty much a mother’s dream. Our girls, their husbands, a boyfriend and all 7 dogs slept while sugar plums danced in their heads.  It was everything I could have hoped for and more.

They all started arriving on Friday evening and we ordered pizzas and warmed ourselves by the outside fire pit while we laughed and reminisced about holidays past.

On Saturday, we listened to Amy Grant’s Christmas Album which was the soundtrack of all of their childhood Christmases, while we prepped for our family Christmas party.  We told stories and laughed until we cried.  

Our youngest and her boyfriend arrived late afternoon before the party began, and the chaos reached an all-time high as the 7 dogs chased one another around the house.  As I put the prime-rib in the oven, the dogs were barking and the boys were busy trying out our holiday drink concoctions, I wondered for a brief moment if it was all going to come together.  Then I remembered that this chaos also belonged to everyone that was invited.  These dogs were their grand-dogs and half of these adult kids belonged to them as well.  I sent a quick text to remind them all that our chaos was their chaos and I hoped they were prepared.

Once everyone arrived and the holiday cheer was passed around, the dogs settled into a long winter’s nap.  We enjoyed appetizers, everyone’s ugly sweaters, took photos, ate a wonderful dinner together, played some crazy Christmas games and even had a shuffleboard tournament. Joy was abundant and we ended the evening well into the early morning hours with grateful hearts.  I’m also happy to report that no Honey Baked hams, prime-ribs or cookies were stolen off the counter during the entirety of this party.

Christmas morning came early as Alex and Drew had to catch a plane in the afternoon.  Everyone woke to overflowing stockings (including mom and dad as our youngest started this tradition last year).

So many beautiful, heartfelt gifts were exchanged and even a few tears.  These 6 adults that we call the kids are some of the best humans.  They are kind, thoughtful, generous, loving, appreciative and an absolute joy to be around.  We feel so incredibly blessed and grateful for this crazy bunch and their little dogs, too.

A big thanks to all 6 of them for making the trek home this year.  We know it wasn’t easy with cars breaking down, long drives, difficult work schedules and two of them in the midst of a cross-country move.  We appreciate the great effort you all took to make it happen.

I don’t know when we will all get to do this again, but I soaked in every perfect moment and I will hold onto this  Christmas forever.