Conductors and Engineers

Papa Dan and Grandma Bdoe got the boys 3 train sets for Christmas. They have been playing with them almost non-stop for the last two days. George built a table for them this afternoon so we could eat on our dining room table again. Once the table in the garage was set up, the boys spent I think 3 hours in there pushing the trains around with an occasional "choo, choo".
At first there were huge melt downs on the part of both boys when a train crash occured. Partly because they are exhausted from Christmas festivities and partly because they are both so passionate about their trains. They have since learned how to share the track and are doing phenominally.
Our family has been growing exponentially the past few years. With the addition of husbands and children to the clan of seven daughters, we just don't fit in my parent's house for holidays anymore. The solution came this year in the form of a tent. It was a stroke of brilliance. It cost more to rent one than to buy it on ebay. So we'll be in the tent for future holidays. It's 16'x20' and it fit nicely on my parent's lawn. Of course it's carpeted, half the family is in the carpet/flooring business. It was heated, cozy and the christmas lights lit up the night beautifully.

Christmas tradition is spending Christmas Eve at my parents with extended family. My Uncle Alan, cousins and their families all come. If everyone shows up, it's 31+ people. Christmas morning we open presents at our house, then head back over to my parents for brunch and more presents. We're drawing names the last few years, so we can at least see the floor. When naptime rolls around, we hop in the car and drive way past George's parents house while the kids sleep peacefully in the back seat. All strapped in and drooling.
When they've had sufficient time to sleep, we pull into the second set of Grandparents and play some more. It's a full two days. We are blessed to be surrounded by so much family.