the Spielmans got together...

On Thursday, we loaded up the car for an overnight trip to Illinois. We were able to get together at Jim and Courtney's house for dinner and to exchange gifts. It was awesome and crazy seeing everyone. The cousins enjoyed running around and being loud together.  All the cousins got lots of new books to read.  Grammy got a new photo of her with her grandkids.  Mostly, it was just great being able to see everyone and spend time all together-as short as that time was.

Grammy with the grandkids (back row: Cale, Abbie, Jacob, Marcus and Kella,; front row: Maddie, Ewan, Liam and Xander)

a picture right before the presents were opened and the craziness started

Liam unwrapped his present to find a box.  He was very excited and thought it was great to jump on.  "I jump so high!", he kept saying.  He never did open the box.  Luckily, it had a shirt and gloves in there-nothing breakable.

Kella got held by lots of people...Aunt Courtney

...Aunt Bitsy...

...and Lanny...

...the men got together...(Andy, Eric and Jim)

...Ewan and Xander played together...Best conversation of their playtime was overheard by my sister.  Ewan and Xander were sword fighting and Ewan looked at Xander and said "Do you speak spanish?".  Xander said "Yeah!" (he does not)  Then they both took off to fight in another room.

I love seeing my family and everytime we get together, I wish that we lived closer so we could see each other more often.  But, it was a great Christmas gift to be able to see them again.