Another Great Christmas

The holidays are a great excuse to get together with your loved ones! This year all the McInelly family gathered for Christmas, everyone was here, even Grandpa Bill who just turned 90!

We went to the capitol and took some family photos.

Here are a few other fun ones.

Emma loves horses and couldn't resist this pony under the giant Christmas tree.

Did I mention the Christmas tree was giant?

Our little family doesn't look so little anymore. I don't feel old enough to have 4 kids.


At our family party on Christmas Eve, we also celebrated Jared's grandfather's birthday (Dec. 18th)

Grandpa Bill is such a wonderful person and we are so glad he traveled all the way from Canada to be with us. He's been very influential in Jared's life and we have all grown to love him dearly. We're so glad he is healthy and you'd never guess he's 90.

For a little more space we went down to the church where the kids could play in the big gym, we had a family talent show, ate pizza and then went back to the house to do the nativity and chocolate fountain. It was a great party.

Jared and his brothers, Zack, Mike, and Mat... and a few extras.

All the sisters in law. Carrie, Emma, me, Bri, and Mandy.

We got home late that night, thank goodness the kids slept in a little.

Here they are Christmas morning.

Linsey got a DSI

Hunter got a new bike.

Emma got the T Rex puppet that she was hoping for.

She also got a zhu zhu pet and we cracked up because moments after opening it, that poor hamster became a snack for her T Rex. I'm not sure what has happened to my little girl.

We went back to Papa and Grandma Jeanne's house for more fun. Uncle Mike managed to give almost all of the grandkids a ride...at the same time!

even that hideous T Rex got in on the fun.

We put a movie on for the kids.
This is all the McInelly grandkids, minus 2 sleeping babies (Austin and Blake).

Here's my favorite Christmas picture. Hunter, Linsey, Emma, and baby Austin. They are what makes Christmas so much fun at our house!

A Hawaiian Christmas at Thanksgiving

No, we didn't go to Hawaii.......

My parents did and all they brought us was this.

(We're hoping this one makes it for the family Christmas card.)

The original plan was to wait until Christmas to receive our gifts from Hawaii, but my parents couldn't wait. So, after our traditional Thanksgiving dinner, we gathered around while they showed us pictures from their trip, told a few stories and then broke out boxes of wrapped gifts. It really was like Christmas.




Anthony and his girlfriend Ericka with baby Austin. (I have to say "baby" because he is getting way too big, way too fast.)

So, now all my kids are set for Hawaiian day at school, and if we ever take a trip, we know what to wear!

For Thanksgiving this year, we all gathered at my brother Chris's house. He and Tally are the ultimate hosts. Our meal was fabulous.

My mom makes the best pies in the world.

My favorite is banana cream. Yum!

There were activities planned non-stop all weekend long. Dodge ball, football, air soft guns, movies, eating out, and we even went to an indoor water park.

Mostly, my kids just love being with their cousins.

Emma even found a dinosaur that she played with and slept with all weekend long.

Amongst all the excitement, Hunter lost his first tooth! Hoo-ray!

Gotta love that toothless smile!

Thanksgiving was great, and our first round of Christmas was lots of fun too. We're all warmed up for the real thing, can't believe it's less than 2 weeks away.