Christmas after Christmas After Christmas :)

Cousins playing the silly game :)
Christmas Tree near the Riverwalk
Our beautiful niece!
The Children with Grandma

Christmas way wonderful :) It brought families together for us 5 different times. And to me, that is the Biggest joy of the holiday season. The Saturday before Christmas, the Johansons got together. It was really nice because everyone was able to make it except cousin Shan, and that is only because he is over seas right now serving in the military. He should be home on leave later this month. We did our usual over-eating, gift game, and then the cousins sat down and played a new board game. I can't even remember the name of it, but it was a pretty funny game to play. Good Times. That evening, mom, Tom, Jared, Amanda and I decided to go and enjoy the Riverwalk decorated in Christmas lights. It was a very nice and VERY cold evening. Christmas Eve, we were with the Gossetts (Jared's mom's side of the family). And when the Gossetts get together, you never know what to expect :) However, I can say, this gathering was a lot more tamed this year than last year's Christmas gathering :) And I am too embarrased to tell you why. However, we did have a little mishap with a knife, but the wound was treated, and stitches weren't necessary, so it as a pretty happy evening together. Christmas morning we opened presents with Jared's family. Jordyn was so cute as she had a facial reaction to each present she received. Children make Christmas, they really do! Later that day we went and opened presents with me family. Which was nice, but I do wish we could have spent more time together, but bed came early because 4 o'clock the next morning came early. That is when Jared, me, Cailyn, Amanda, Michelle, and her fiance, Kevin all piled in a suburban and headed for Knoxville, TN. We spent the rest of the holidays with my dad, step-mom, and step-brother. We also got to go visit my step-grandmother. It has been years since we have seen eachother. We all had a nice little vacation which included a Christmas dinner, shopping trip to Pigeon Forge, lunch at the Dixie Stampede (owned by Dolly Parton), and the watching of the second National Treasure movie. Which is really good, by the way.

I told ya, we had a busy holiday season :)

Now it is back and home for the New Year, which is already bringing many new and exciting changes. No, not a baby, yet :) So Jared and I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!