A Merry Mueller Family Christmas!

Yesterday was the annual Mueller Family Christmas party. It is a fun event where all of my dad's family comes together. If you know my family, this is hard to accomplish since there are 13 kids, courtesy of Grandma and Grandpa Mueller, 36 grandchildren (that includes me) and many more great grandchildren (that includes Gracie). Since our family is larger than most, the past several years we have resorted to renting a hall to party in. I miss the days of crowding in Grandma Mueller's house. Us kids would sit on the porch with our new toys and send one person in to bring back food like apple studel (my Grandma made the best!). Now we can spread out and the little kids can run around. My cousin Bobby plays Santa and calls out who the presents are for and who they are from. My Uncle Bob used to do it and it still doesn't seem quite like Christmas without him hollering out the names. I will always remember him most for his role as Santa. This year cousin Kate had Gracie's name and she got an animal hospital that she just loves! Gracie had fun even though she clung to mom for alot of it. She is not used to so many people. She started running around a little bit. Next year she will be off and running. It is so nice to see everyone and catch up. I really only see most of my family like twice a year. (Uncle Jerry throws one mean of a Mueller 4th of July party!) My counsins (fellow porch-sitters) and I posed at the tree. It's fun to think about the times that we had on Christmases past. There is a picture of us when we were quite young sitting on our Grandpa's lap with all our Cabbage Patch Dolls. A few years ago we made a video at the party called "The Mueller Witch Project." (long story but oh so funny). Anyways, it was a great time. Lots of yummy food and of course we had the $1 girft exchange which was quite funny and we played Left Right Center. It's always sad to think of those that can't be with us any longer at these functions but I know they are looking down at us and smiling.