Christmas in Springfield

The day after Christmas we headed downstate to Chuck's family. This is always an interesting experience and the girls just love their dad's siblings. You never know what will be said that will be remembered for years to come. Catie has taken to writing some of these Tindellisms down. Usually it is Uncle Robert who says something hilarious. Two years ago, we had tacos for one of our big meals together and we ran out of tomatoes. He said, "No tomatoes!!! Well, that is just like not fishing.....ever!!" He can usually be found on his fishing boat when he is not working 16 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week.
That's him and I discussing some very deep subject....I just adore him. We are trying to get the whole family here for Christmas next year. He and his family are the hold outs, but I think he is seriously considering it.

We got there kind of late on Friday because we had our van in the shop....again. So as soon as we got there, we ordered Pizza and a few people came over to visit.
Saturday, 6 people went to the shooting range while I took Vera to the grocery store. It was the first time my girls had shot a gun and I think they really liked it. Let's put it this way, don't ever get them mad because the guys said they can shoot a pistol like they have been doing it all their lives:Candice and Tom

Catie and Tom. Chuck couldn't take any pictures when they shot pistols because the space was too small.
A bunch of people played poker while Dana and I did the quilt shop thing. Then we went to the Golden Corral buffet. The food was good, but we were crammed in a table for 20 in a far corner of the restaurant.
On to the annual gift exchange:
Since I am in the purse mode right now, I made Kendra a purse. The other ladies in the room were quite jealous and wanted one. I love this line of fabric and found it at Joanne's. I also made Vera an apron and oven mitt, but didn't get a picture. It is made of kitty fabric because of Sophie and Squeaky, her two cats.
Chuck calls Sophie fat cat:
You can't see her full body here, but she is huge. She slept with us on Saturday night, in the crook of my leg and I thought it was Chuck's leg. Then, after I flipped my leg over her, I realized that it wasn't shaped like a leg, but she didn't move!! She is a sweet thing though. The other cat is more skittish and only has one eye, so Chuck calls her, "Peg Leg Pete, the one-eyed pirate cat".
Sunday was church in the morning and then almost everyone came over for lunch and we left around 2. With everyone's busy schedules, we only get down there about twice per year.
Other images from the weekend:
Brothers and my nephew Zach yuckin' it up.
The jury is out on whether I like this look or not.

Dana, my sister-in-law, who like me, loves all things crafty.
My mother-in-law, who says she never takes a good picture. How about this one, mom???
My other two sister-in-laws. Julie on the left is Robert's wife and Christine on the right is Chuck's sister.
Hope you enjoyed my second Christmas. More on our New Year's Eve celebration to come.