Christmas: Gleason style

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house.....the Gleason's were partying! Every year we hang the stockings, trim the tree, and host a hopping Christmas eve party for all my Gleason relatives (most of which  who are located in a convenient 5 mile radius of my house since they farm together).  My Mom decks the halls with boughs of holly and my Dad cranks up the Christmas music and all of us kids spend the day helping to prepare. 

Maggy and Neal stirred the soup

Leanna put the finishing touches on her cheese dip

Dad sliced up oranges for the always delicioius Blue Moon

And then Dad used the knife to take a loving picture with his only son-in-law

Us girls spent a fair amount of time chopping and dicing fruits and veggies

And Mom layed out a delicious Christmas party spread: Sicilian sausage soup, creamy potato soup, chips, dip, cheese platter, and fruit and veggie trays. 

And who could forget the dessert buffet? Forget sugarplums, I want chocolate!

My favorite part of the night: the opening of the wine!

The Gleason sisters are back in town!
Left to right: Maggy (my twin), Leanna (the baby of the family), Me

Maggy, chilling with her Blue Moon, waiting for the party to get started

Its the Bracy clan! The Bracy's, long time neighbors and childhood friends, crashed (were invited) to our Christmas get-together several years ago, and have continued crashing every year since. Which is just fine by us since we love them like family anyways :)

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Granddad.

Mingling over hor d'ouvres

Kade, my second cousin (yes, my family is so big that even my cousins have kids now!)

Sammy and Wyatt, being boys and wresting

Catch phrase always gets the party started

Wyatt got a new nerf gun and decided to test it out

Things did not end well for him, lol. 

Full, happy, and probably slightly tipsy, almost the entire party relocates to St. Patrick's church in Elkhart for Midnight Mass later in the evening. Then its back to bed to await Santa while visions of sugarplums, (and tomorrow's turkey) dance in our heads. 
*Sigh*  I love Christmas.

Bright and early on Christmas morning we wake up, rub the sleep from our eyes, smile because its Christmas, and then pack up and hop in the car to head to Pleasant Hill for Christmas with the Hubbard family on my Mom's side. 

My Mom's side of the family, although not quite as large as my Dad's, still has enough to pack my Grandma's house. My cousins on that side of the family also have their own children too! (seems like I may be getting a little behind on the whole "having a baby thing.")  Little Kate, above, was not happy about getting a bow put in her hair. 

Nothing a few tickles couldn't fix though!

Sadie, along with everyone else in the room, was fascinated by her new remote control car. 

Once the little ones had opened their presents, and we had all had our fill of Christmas lunch (which I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures of), it was time for grab bag gifts for the adults, usually a pretty raucous occasion with everybody stealing gifts from everybody else. No one is safe, not even Mammer (yes, I call my grandma, Mammer). 

Then, in Hubbard fashion, we bundle up in our coats and mittens and head out to the old farm to climb the "Big Hill" and work off those Christmas cookies. 

Its a long trek up, and deceptively steep. Walking up will leave you winded, running up will make you feel like your heart is going to thud right out of your chest. 

I can't help myself though, I always race to the top.  (The others stopped to stare at bald eagle in the distance)

Dad was pretty happy he made it too

Whatever my Mom's side of the family lacks in number, they make up for in size, with all my uncles and cousins towering well over 6 feet!

After a few glorious moments in the chilly wind at the top of the hill, its time to head back down the forested path on the other side.  Check out the deer trail. Pike county, where the farm is located, is the deer capital of the world. 

We always finish up the trek with a little exploring along the creekbed  

And of course, the journey wouldn't be complete without some discussion about farm equipment and machinery. 
Boys and their toys. 

I'm so happy I made it home for Christmas!