Today was one of my favorite days of the year. The third Saturday in December always is.
This is our Christmas Chaos, and I love it!
My mom is the third of 10 children raised on a dairy farm. I am the third of thirty-four grandchildren. My children are 4 of 31 great-grandchildren born in 10 years. Eight of the grandchildren are expecting new babies in 2011. I’ll probably get emails from my family about my math, but I’ve added it up 3 times tonight… we number 100.
Every third Saturday in December we gather for Christmas, bringing life to the hallowed halls of the school where my mom and her siblings received their high school diplomas; where my dad coached a championship football team; where my husband mourned along with his 10 junior classmates as they closed the doors for the last time.
Our children storm the gym to tag their cousins. My own generation proves its Peter Pan status in friendly games of 3-on-3. Cameras flash as quickly as the smiles. Hugs and laughter flow freely. We receive grandma’s ornaments. And there’s food. Oh, the food!
This day, held sacred on our calendar, is a gift.
All because two people,
these precious people
Awesome, Amy. That’s what raising generations is all about, isn’t it? How blessed you all are to have so many able to gather together each year!
Love. :>) Teary-eyed, too. I used to call my Grandma on World Marriage Sunday and thank her for getting married. :>) How I miss her!
That is the coolest thing ever, to call your grandma on World Marriage Sunday! What an awesome grandaughter you are.
So sweet! My husband’s maternal grandparents are the same way! My niece was number 100 and we are still counting:-)
I hope you get to enjoy big-family fun, too!
Not only do I love this story, but I have an unnatureral love for old schools… so how is it ur family can use this school do they own and does someone live in there? My dream (which my hubby thinks is funny and cute) is to own and live in my own school house (I mean come on how cool would it be to have your own gym, music room, art room, and personal library !!) Please I am begging please share more of the story of this school house!
The school is actually open just for a handful of children with behavior disorders in the surrounding areas. They allow community members to rent it out on the weekends, so my family just reserves that same weekend every year.
Hi! I’m a new follower and I absolutely love your blog! Especially the story of your family. I have 7 children and dream our family will grow like this one day! Thank you for sharing your family, creativity and passion. As a thank you, I want you to give you the Stylish Blog Award…
Stylish Blogger Award Rules for accepting this award are:
1. Thank & link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
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4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their Blog Award!
You can get the award off of my post, just save it as a pic; http://www.thestilishfamilytable.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas!
LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it!!!!!!!!! I so LOVE your Christmas and I so wish I was from a big family. We have four children, so not small, and hope someday our kids will have a bunch, too!
Merry Christmas!
Love this post! I can only hope to be so richly blessed one day!
Toni
How wonderful to be blessed with a big family! I know your grandparents are thrilled to be surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you for sharing this beautiful event in your life. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
One of the best things I’ve read in a long time. Thank you so much for sharing.
I love the ending of this post! My mom is the 5th of 10 kids, and I was the 10th of 36 grandchildren. Our big family Christmas memories are the BEST!
I wish my siblings and cousins would start having kids so our own children can share some of the fun!
We’ll have 40 great grands next year, and I would guesstimate another 40 before it’s all said and done. So much fun!
Wow, that is amazing and a whole lot of people. What an incredible legacy!
Amy – this is so precious. Thanks for giving us a peak into your Christmas Chaos, but it’s much more like Christmas Cherished…what a heritage.
That is the cutest.. thanks for sharing! Happy Holiday’s!
My dad was the 2nd of 9children raised on a farm. I was the 8th of 32 grandchildren. I don’t know how many greats there are but they are still coming and now some of the great grandchildren are finishing college…
Although my grandparents are no longer with us, we all still get together twice a year (or as many as can make it). One being the annual christmas party that one of the 9 hosts in a rented place-they provide the meat and place settings and everyone else brings a dish to pass and byob. It is a blast!! The second time we all get together is for a family reunion in July. It is 3 day camping(tent and cabins and campers) event that is ALWAYS a blast. Everyone looks forward to it all year.
There is nothing better than a BIG Family!!! I have great memories of all of us 32 grandchildren along with our parents getting together for Christmas every year at my grandparents farm house. The grownup in the dining room and the rest of us in the kitchen–which included picnic tables too covered with table cloths so that everyone had a place to eat!!!
How awesome. I love family
My grandmother just passed away last week at the age of 103. (Her husband died 51 years ago.) She had 7 children, 31 grandchildren, 61 great-grands and 10 great-great-grands. Big families are a lot of fun!
I LOOOOVE this post! ABSOLUTELY amazing.
That is wonderful! I loved you did this!
Your story makes me smile. I think it is amazing that you are all able to get together every year. That is a true testament to the love you all must have for your parents and grandparents.
Now my question is, how do you remember everyone’s names?! =)
It’s getting tricky, for sure. Especially with the great-grandchildren. And can you even imagine marrying INTO a family that big?! We try to be very kind to all of the in-laws.
Beautiful, Amy! I was just coming over here b/c I feel like we haven’t “hung out” in awhile. And I wanted to see what was up–so glad I read this! You gave me happy tears! Don’t we all want a legacy like theirs?
Merry Christmas, friend!
I know! Between the baby and the 30-day giving challenge, I feel like I am *just now* coming up for air. I miss my friends!
How sweet is that? I love reading about happy families! Does everyone live in the area…or do some people fly/drive in from other parts of the country?
About 1/2 of us live within an hour or two of each other in Kansas. The rest are spread across Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, North Carolina, Arkansas and Mississippi. We never *all* make it, but there’s always lots and lots of people!
I’m all teary eyed, too! Beautiful post. Made me realize that my own large extended family hasn’t had a reunion in several years, and I may need to plan something for this coming year.
Absolutely beautiful