The Coombs Family

This year all my siblings came over for our Christmas party. We usually don't all get under one roof, so when we do, it's time to snap some pictures. It's so much fun to see my kids getting to know my brother Ryan and their new nephew Porter. Here is Uncle Ryan teaching my kids how to destroy our yard and play in the street. Good example! But hey, that's what uncles are for. Here we are at meal time.   Here's what happens when the grown-ups decide to play dress up by the tree.  Here's Roger's family. Angela and Porter sure do make him look good. This is a picture of a quilt that my mom had made for Rhoda. It's from my grandpa Dave's old jeans and handkerchiefs. We can totally recognize some of his jeans and we love it. I may have to borrow that.  And here's the whole family. Some of us are growing up and some of us are growing old.

Christmas was out of control this year. We are usually pretty low key, but that's hard to do with 7 kids in the house. My sisters family is staying with us (more about that later), and so Christmas morning was full of lots of laughter and screaming. We've never really done the whole Santa thing either. We are big believers in less is more for gifts for our kids. We like to spoil other peoples kids instead. Anyway, so Santa apparently buys things that are unreasonable and obnoxious. That's how the kids know it was really Santa, because what parent would honestly buy things that are loud, eat up batteries, and take up lots of space…. So yes, super adorable to see how happy they are. I get it. But then they only got one gift from us. Unless you count their new pajamas. But then they get stuff from their grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles, and before you know it, there are 9 million gifts under the tree and we have enough recycling to fill the back o...

We got snow earlier than usual this year and we were so excited. We didn't manage to get out of school or work this year, but at least we got a nice weekend of freezing cold snow free entertainment. Last year Shelby wanted to play in the snow for hours until she was frozen solid. This year it was Calvin. He would not come inside and wanted people to throw snow right at him.   The snow was very dry and it was impossible to make a snowman. Calvin really wanted one, so Cale b made him a baby one that he proceeded to jump over 50X. You have to look pretty close to see the little guy. I don't think my kids know how big snowmen are usually supposed to be.   And of course, our annual gingerbread making night. We had over some of our good friends and there was a lot of candy, houses, sugar rushes, and building going on. It's so fun to see what everyone makes and how creative they get. Now I have to show off my friends kids creations. Each of their houses ...