Christmas on the farm 2013

This year's Christmas was a week-long extravaganza that ended in a wish lantern send off at my parents' farm.  Once again, I left my camera in the case (for the most part) in order to be present for the Christmas celebrations.  I brought it along to the farm to capture the wish lantern send off, as well as some moments beforehand.  I feel especially compelled to take pictures of my kids and my brother's and sister's kids at the farm because this is where we grew up.  This is where our childhood memories are.  I love when I see my son or daughter gravitating towards the same activities and locations of the house that I did growing up.  These are the things that warm my heart :)

Every visit to the farm always begins with my nephew Mason (13, soon to be 14) challenging everyone in the family to a game of HORSE.  My mom, who happened to play a little professional basketball back in the 60's, is always the first one to accept his challenge.  And again this year, she beat my nephew.  She is 70 and even she thinks it is hilarious.  When we teased my nephew about getting toasted by his 70 year old grandmother, he responded, "YOU try playing grandma!"  Ha!  Love it.

These are some of my mom's old trophies from back in the day (next to her baby picture).

After Mason got burned by grandma, he decided to take his gaming indoors ;)

Yes, this picture is supposed to be upside down.  It is from my view on the floor laying by the gas stove to get warm.

I was well on my way to becoming a basketball star, as well.  Unfortunately, I peaked in 8th grade.  The little boy in the poster is me at age 10 or 11 spending the week at basketball camp.

While the adults were lounging around the house, these were the goings on of the cousins...

Sydney and her cousin (along with my mom) LOVE horses.  They would play horses all day, every day.

And here's Sydney playing in my parents' closet, which is where I played many days as a kid.

And you can't go to grandma's house without getting out the paints.

My sister and my daughter decided to play dress up.  My sister is in my dad's old National Guard uniform and my daughter is in one of my sister's old dresses, holding up a picture of my sister (age 4 or 5).

Next we have the annual Grandkids on the '55 Chevy pic...

And here are some other pics from hanging out outside on the farm...

This is the schoolhouse where my mom went to school as a girl.  It is now on their property on the farm, and is the location of many parties and ping-pong tournaments.

My sister and I "Gettin' 'Er Done" Wish Lantern Style Christmas 2013.

First we set off the colorful wish lanterns since they are better to send off in the daylight...

After heading up town for Mazzio's pizza dinner (one of my faves), we came back to the farm to set off the white wish lanterns in the dark...

And now it was time to sit back and enjoy the lanterns following each other in a perfect line through the sky, and wonder how many alien sighting would be reported that evening ;)

I hope everyone's Christmas was as magical as mine was!  Here's to 2014 and making new memories!

XOXO,
Shauna