parte uno

we traveled north in the rain today, with cars flying by showing license plates of states even farther north - all in a hurry to get home for Christmas, with one day to spare. in our back seat, one very sleepy high schooler & one hyped-up middle schooler. this is Christmas: Part One, with Mike's family ~

Mike's sister, mother, & father

our classic southern menu:  spiral ham, chicken salad (with homemade pickles), green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole (don't forget the marshmallows!), corn pudding, potato salad, cherry fluff, & biscuits. oh, & sweet tea. oh, & pecan pie....oh, & a peach pie...well, just because. is that all?

after i taught the boys (yet again, i'm pretty sure) how to set the table, we proceeded to, then, wreck said table settings after i convinced them & my neice Rebecca to play 'chicken foot' with me - cluck, cluck, cluck.  (i'm the kind of mother who lugs an incredibly heavy set of dominoes with her in order to entertain the children - and prevent excessive opportunities for mischief.)

Santa Claus & Co. waiting to unwrap presents!

 

Samuel on trumpet & Joseph on piano, for some Christmas carols

(i am also the kind of mother who insists her children entertain their relatives)

my two sweet ones

ready for part two...