Amanda J Taylor: Holiday Fun

The holidays were particularly unique this year. For Celeste, I was completely unsure of how she would handle everything but she was able to have a pretty incredible Christmas.

Every year, we have the extended family Christmas for my mother's side of the family. When I was a kid, it was a time when we would all get tons and tons and tons of gifts and our parents would all go broke trying to supply gifts for the rapidly growing family (can't say I minded!). But now (thankfully) it's turned into more of a fun get together, get crazy and eat everything in sight. My Aunt Cyndi has done an incredible job revamping our family Christmas and I look forward to it each year. We get together and everyone brings a single white elephant gift. Most are just plain hilarious. And then we have an ugly sweater/outfit contest and it provides quite the laughter.

This year, I wanted to do something special with Celeste and since she's so incredibly artistic, we decided to make out own t-shirts. I am not surprised that my 6 year old's top is neater than mine!

Celeste making her shirt

Hah... mine

We started the evening off with what everyone loves - food! I loved this party; so much fun. :) (Yes, that is my little brother wearing a pj onesie that has jingle bells safety pinned to it and his son in the candy can angry bird costume.)

Landon, Gabe, me, Alicia, Aunt Cyndi, Kyle and Luwannah (and "Bun")

Luwannah (and "Bun"), Alicia, me and Aunt Cyndi

Now a little bit about "Bun." "Bun" is the name that my sister-in-law has given to her little bun-in-the-oven. Yep, that's right; there's another member joining the Johnson family in about 6.5 months!

After the food, laughter, white elephant gifts and custome contest, we all decided to take the party to Target and to surprise my cousin, Emily, with a family flash mob. Oh yeah, awful clothes and all. And yes, we sang.