Reeder Family Extravaganza

Every year since before I was born, there has been a Reeder Family Christmas Eve celebration. Usually we would get together at Grandma & Grandpa's home and then rotate between all the Aunts & Uncles. Everyone came. Everyone when I was little was Grandpa & Grandma, the 4 siblings and their spouses and the grandkids, totaling 12. Well, the last couple of years we've usually gotten together, but occasionally chunks of the family were missing. About 4 years ago we switched to a weekend before or after Christmas, started bringing in catered food with the grandkids bringing the snacks. Then, there was talking of not doing it anymore. Maybe we'd get together in the summer at a park. There are after all almost 50 of us now. 11 of the 12 cousins are married, the last one will be in 2010. There are 21 great grandkids with 2 more on the way.

Well, not getting together lasted one year. Auntie Mary called us all together again this year and what a blast it was. Only 2 cousins and their families were missing.

My Aunt and Uncle are wonderful, maybe a little crazy, because all of us were there at one time with all those kids under 7 running through the house. Huge blessing on them for having us all in with smiles on their faces and wonderful food.

Thankfully it was a sunny, December, California day. We filled the backyard, the family room, the kitchen and even the living room and the front yard for parts of it. Their were babies sleeping in the different rooms and someone always in the bathrooms. It was a great Christmas get together. Below are pictures of the groups.

Grandma with all her grandkids and their spouses.

The second half of the grandkid picture! We don't all fit in one anymore! The couple in the bright blue and orange are getting married this year!! Congrats!!

Here are most of the great grandkids. One little guy was sleeping and this took about 10 minutes from start to finish. Remember, they are all under 7, so they don't all stay put at the same time. This process was entertainment in and of it self!
I hope there will be many more Reeder Family Extravaganza's in the years to come. We just might have to move to a park and switch to the summer, but we'll all find our way back together.

What a tribute this is to the blessings of God!! Also, to my grandparents, how they raised their children and their love for each and everyone of us. It is Grandma's love that brings us so close together!