Celebrating Christmas Day in Florida with family - 2025/12/25

Merry Christmas! We're happy the whole Michigan (and extended) family is here to celebrate in Florida with us! We got a huge rental house so we can all be together for the holiday! 

It's 9:15am and those Christmas Elves from last night are still sleeping. 

When they finally got up, people around the house were pretty pleased to see the homemade tree and presents in the middle of the room. 

Some people even used it to add their own Christmas card gifts to. 

But before we get too far, we've got to open stockings! 

Filled with all their favorite treats. 

I don't remember being as excited for clothes on Christmas, but they certainly like them. 

Some homemade soaps from their cousin Avery. 

An Apple pencil! I'm excited to see her creativity expand onto the iPad and digital creations. 

Money for Minecraft and Roblox! 

Gram sent some nice letters and money folded to look like a teddy bear. 

And a kitty cat. 

Using her new soft fluffy pink blanket. 

Merry Christmas to all! 

While other families ran off to do their own morning Christmas traditions, everyone hung out around the house, doing hidden puzzle books and playing Spot It. 

But then, it was time for everyone to get their presents from Alli and Ian. They've worked really hard on them. 

Everyone is getting homemade board games and card games!

A game called Flip. Note the homemade dice in the middle made from hot glue. 

Qwirky for Theresa and I. 

Austin got one called "What/Where?"

Instead of having a present for Tyler and Rita, this one was for Tyler and Ethan. 

And after opening it up, it all made sense. It's called "Gone Fishin!"

Rita (a school librarian) got her own game called "Book Loans" complete with cards of different books, including "Will and the Weasel" (Ian's book series), "John Tuffer" (Alli's book series), and various things I've written for the blog. Other cards included red apples (because she's a teacher), and a worm card.  

Amy and Don got their own copy of Pick 6. 

Abby and Carson got a game called "The Perfect Breakfast" because Carson is all about Coffee. It also included bagels, donuts, splenda, sugar, creamer, sprinkles, frosting, jelly filling, poppy seeds, butter, and cream cheese and more. 

And Alli also has an extra present for her brother. Lots of drawings she made for him. They have a friend they chat with a lot whose name starts with a "C". They call their group the C. I. A. 

And Alli drew a picture of all their Minecraft characters in their outfits playing together. 

Such good siblings. 

Ian - There's one other present for everyone that you've been looking at this whole time! Everyone can pick whatever ornament they'd like off the tree! 

These are all the ornaments they made with Gram over Thanksgiving. 

I'm lucky to have such thoughtful and caring kids. 

We're really moving through them! 

Puzzle 3 - I Love The 80s completed! 

Back to work on another puzzle! It was a surprise to see Rita participating. When we told her we'd gotten some puzzles for the house, she didn't think she'd participate. She's not normally a puzzler. But these puzzles are different. Definite, distinctive objects instead of just 500 blue pieces of the sky. 

The rule is, if you do a piece, you can be in the picture. Ian trying to find a match. 

Puzzle 4 - I Love America complete!

No time to rest. Next puzzle. Go! 

While they're all puzzling, everyone else started getting the special Christmas dinner together. Steaks for 16! 

Had to use my propane for the house grill, plus I had my smaller RV grill that I brought to cook on. In the end, everyone got a steak that was trimmed and cooked to their liking. 

Yum! Who needs a Christmas ham or turkey when you've got steak! 

Along with baked potatoes, green beans, and hawaiian rolls. So tasty. 

The great part of having a big house, is that everyone can find a place to be without feeling in the way. Everyone playing on the same game of Fortnight. Austin on his Playstation on the big TV, Ian on his Switch, Carson on his travel console (he's a musician and on the road a lot), and where's Alli? 

Ah, another bedroom on a Switch hooked up to the tv. Love the headphones on top of the santa hat, somehow over all that hair. 

Downstairs, another puzzle has come out. 

Puzzle 5 - National Park Badges complete! We're really moving through these! Only a couple more puzzles to get us through the next 4 days! We're going to need to slow down or something.