Over the years we have established the week between Christmas and New Years as Robertson Week. Our Robertson family is expected to come together, in Oroville, and cram into the house and enjoy time as a family. I LOVE THIS WEEK. We had a great time this year. We drove on Saturday the 26th and came home on Saturday the 2nd. The week is always a blurr because we are up late and playing hard and entertaining each other and just having fun, all while sleeping on some sort of make shift bed with lots of kids in close proximity. It’s wonderful.

 

Road Trip! Taylee and Kylee road with us 🙂 The weather was clear and we made it in our usual 11 hours. I did read and sleep for as much of the trip as the kids would let me.

Tommy and Ray opening gifts from the Grandparents

Millie being a ham and opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa – duckies and an outfit!

Cali’s Loot from the Grandparents

 

Benji and Packer got similar gifts as their cousins. guns and sling shots and shirts, Rose and Cedar opening their Barbie’s!

 

Christmas is Chaotic with this many people – but the FUN outdoes the CHAOS. We had Garbage BAGS that couldn’t even fit out the door.

  

The Men all got Fanny Packs! and Ben got a Green Bay Jacket from Jarsh – it was the first sibling exchange gift because Josh had to leave early – it was special! 🙂

 

My oldest Siblings, that don’t have babies right now, were very helpful to those of us with lots of babies right now. I love that everyone helps me.

 

And then there was a cousin gift exchange.

 

and nails were painted and Grandpa held Tiago late into the night so that I could play Nertz 🙂 and we helped Brady apply for a job.

    

We went to the church and played basketball. The kids are getting older so we had lots of people to play.

This was our first year spending the week at Kevin’s house now that my parents have moved. It was nice having more space and a garage and a fun yard.

All of the adults went to Hula’s!

 

Tiago got to meet Eliza and play with Aunt Kelsey.

 

The kids did a play for their older cousins.

And we played at the park. I do love California winters! Football and kickball 🙂

     

And Ben made Benoganoff  for everyone! (especially for Mikila)

   

Each night we played games and colored and visited. We let the kids stay up late and hang out and we stayed up later.

      

One afternoon Jaydn got a guinea pig so we all went to the pet store and played with the animals.

   

And the guys of course had to go to Hula’s AGAIN :), and Ryan and Mary were here by this time…

 

Girls table, ready for dinner… and Ray was ready for dinner…

 

More HELP with kids: Christy with the babies and Kelsey entertaining all of the kids with Simon says.

  

Nertz and girls shopping with my sisters and Ben’s salsa is always a favorite…

  

The guys took the kids to the church again while we shopped:

     

NEW YEAR’s EVE: Pinata in the garage!!

      

Tiago playing with Aunt Mary:

Ben and I taught Mom and Dad how to play Bounce Off:

I lost at Nertz playing against Mikila and Amber:

These girls love Sean’s fiance, Jana:

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2016!

  

We were all exhausted and then we stayed up even later…

  

And then it was already time to go home 🙁

I’m sure I missed some stuff so I’m posting now. To BE CONTINUED:

SPLENDOR was the game of the week, and Incan Gold. I love Tracie’s Pineapple Hair!

The kids LOVE the trampoline – even if it is cold (California Cold)

And the playground was great! These kids were going non stop all week.

We even had exploring to do and the barn to check out.

Michael really is the baby whisperer 🙂

even the kids were into the gaming this year:

Ice Cream with the Cousins!

I did win the BOUNCE OFF tournament, and us Utahans that had been playing for a month already did have the advantage.

Maybe I am the baby Whisperer, but it’a an unfair advantage when you are the mom.

I got to see Katie and Katie for a few minutes!

and then the front porch diaper box was full and we knew it was time to go home 🙂 (6 kids in diapers)

a long day in the car, Ritz are my friend! (I think the Hancock kids call them Jana crackers)

Taylee and Kylee were troopers in the back seat with Millie. All of us slept a good chunk of the drive (except the driver) and we were just grateful for clear roads and a van that runs well.

Until Next Year!

We had a Robertson Christmas Party at Joel and Megan’s house. We had a fun/fancy dinner. First the adults SERVED the kids and then the kids served the adults. It ended up being super fun. Our Family, Joel’s Family, Ryan’s Family (15 kids) and Shannon, Sean and Jana (9 adults).

They had fun ordering and then asking for lots of beverage refills 🙂

And then it was our turn to be served…

the menu

Somehow we convinced the kids to give us shoulder massages post dinner 🙂 and they sang and danced for entertainment.

We ended the night with 2 tired babies.