Old Traditions, and New

I'm sure it will take me weeks to recover from the over-eating, but it's been a fine time of it.

Christmas is a big thing in our family and this year has been bigger than most. There are seven siblings in my family - most of whom have children and now grandchildren too. With that many people to gather together at one place and one time, it isn't possible to arrange it very often. Even this year we didn't quite make the full family, but it was probably as close as we're going to get. All tolled, there were 42 of us to eat, drink, and be merry together for the past three days. You know what my New Year's resolution better be if I'm not going to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe in a larger size.

But we've had a wonderful time visiting, laughing and teasing; generally making memories with the people we love.

Glen had a wonderful idea a few weeks ago when he decided to host a hay ride for everyone who was around. Boxing Day worked out to be the best day so yesterday we hooked up a big wagon to the tractor, loaded it up with straw, and piled on 30 plus people and off we went. Glen tried to take us through bush country where we might catch a glimpse of wildlife, but I think we were a bit too noisey for that! It was an absolutley fabulous day - the weather was so mild that we snuggled the six month old twins down in the straw and they slept while we built a bonfire and roasted marshmallows and the kids chased the dogs through the trees. It was voted to be the best new tradition to come along and that we should do it every year, but I doubt that the weatherman would cooperate so well every time. Boxing Day could be a raging blizzard just as well as balmy, spring-like temperatures. At any rate - it wasn't only the little kids that enjoyed themselves.

Today is a quieter day. We've been trying to eat up the left overs and find the house from under all the clutter. The babies are sleeping, Glen is out feeding the cattle, and I've got my computer back from the teenagers using it for playing games. Tomorrow it's back to the real world - I think Elections Canada has a huge mailing headed out before the end of the year. I think New Year's Eve will be a quiet evening at home.