The Riley Family Christmas

Look at those two girls....I would definitely say they look related!  It's crazy just how close in size these cousins are to each other too - they are only about two months apart in age.   What a joy it is to get the Riley side of the family together.

Because this happens way too scarcely, it's always a shocker to see just how much Mary Beth's daughters, Alex and Andie, have grown up.  Alex is now 15 years old, a freshman in high school and looking like such a beautiful young woman.  Sigh....

It wasn't long after indulging in some breakfast food that presents were passed out and the kids were ripping off the wrapping paper.

This book that Jeff is holding was given to each of the families - it is a huge family history of Leona's dad's side of the family - to match a similar book given to them a couple of years ago of her mom's side.  Such unbelievable history recorded there...how I wish we could could all have a family history chronicled like that.  Extraordinary!

Then, it was play time (in the brand new fuzzy socks all the girls got)...

Some of the brunch food spread after it was picked over a bit...

John put this crackers, cheese, and beef log together with his twin brother while they prepared the lunch-phase of the food in the kitchen.  (Jeff got some soup going...)

Since Kenjon wouldn't be around for us to see him on the actual Christmas holiday, we invited him to join our celebration and meet this side of the family - much to the delight of the cousins who have been hearing all sorts of stories of our friendship with him from Leona.  It was very sweet that presents were under the tree for him and Leona had even supplied him with some of John's favorites of the treats she makes for us every Christmas.

Andie didn't waste any time in joining in on all of Mikayla's crazy antics around Kenjon...

 

Staring contest...

This is John proudly providing his snack tray...

And, the following discussion about who's food prep was more impressive.  Kenjon was having a hard time deciding who he was better off allying with at this point, as it's kind of obvious that I have more capabilities in supplying him with homemade goodies than John does.

Picture posing time....the three ladies that Leona's boys chose to marry-

Group picture...a Riley Family Tradition....

as is the "Goofy Version" (which I've never been very good at)...

 

This is something you won't see every day - so I thought it was worth putting up several of the pics taken-

The boys couldn't resist getting out on the court, even though the temps were right around 40 degrees with high winds (it's pouring down rain as I type).  It wasn't raining at this moment though, so a game of "PIG" was in order.

Since I don't think Kenjon will ever get around to reading this, I think it's safe to report that he did NOT make this shot....hee hee!

A few autographed souvenirs to take home for the girls - Kenjon signed the bag that Leona had given them (filled with coins and dollar bills....).

It was all too soon before Mary Beth and the girls were needing to leave as were Jeff, Laura, and Leona.  Everyone's schedules are SO BUSY and complicated to try to coincide, but I'm pretty sure it's a unanimous feeling as we leave that we really need to make this time together happen more often than we do.  I'm very blessed to have married into this amazing family.