"You're soft, you're sloppy, you're unruly, you're undisciplined... and I never saw anything look so wonderful in my whole life."

~General Waverly, White Christmas



The Hudson House has thoroughly enjoyed our time together this Holiday Season. I have no idea where our Christmas break has gone. All too soon, it will be time to return our big kids to their school schedules, and resume the rat race we like to call life. As usual, I feel like we've been running around, living life in fast forward, trying to squeeze in all the fun things, and traditions, while desperately trying to teach our children the real meaning behind Christmas. We've enjoyed making gingerbread houses...

and eating as much of the candy we could possibly cram into our mouths....

...Working on Holiday puzzles...

...Using the Christmas Village as a safe house for Batman from his villans...

...Napping....

And of course, our Christmas break wouldn't be complete without at least one (or three) children catching a fever virus, of some sort...

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to take the children to a local Nursing Home, to sing Christmas carols. The children always love walking around, passing out cards they made themselves, and singing to the sweet residents, who were so eager to receive our Christmas cheer. Every time we visit, I'm stunned by the natural love and understanding children seem to show towards our elderly. If you've never been to visit a Nursing Home with your own children, I highly recommend it. You don't have to be related to any of the residents. Just call up the receptionist and let her know you would like to bring your children for a visit. Trust me, they will be thrilled to have you. Seeing all the young faces really do brighten up the elderly people living there. I always talk about going, as if it's a learning experience for my children. And I usually go, feeling like I'm doing a service to our elders. But, the truth is, I always leave there feeling as though I was the one educated, and serviced. I learn so much each time, from the sweet ladies and gentlemen, but also from my own children. No matter the ages of your children, or the time of year you go, I promise, you won't be sorry you went. And as your children grow, they'll be glad you taught them the value of such. I know I certainly am.

Later, we took our kiddos over to a playground to run off some of that Christmas Cheer we had been spreading at the nursing home. It was a perfect day to be outside at a park with friends. Plus, Bert was putting together some of the gifts Santa was bringing, and Flash Flood was napping, so it was the perfect place for the rest of the Hudson Storm & Company to be.

One of our precious neighbors, and Her Highness' pretend big sister, joined us at the nursing home, then the park as well. We have been so very blessed by living next door to such an adorable young lady. I'm so thankful that Her Highness has gotten to witness the life of a sweet teenager, who causes ZERO trouble for her momma. And is a huge help to her crazy neighbor! Thanks, "Lar-Lar" for ALL you do! We love you!

Since the kids were still WIRED, and we were starving, yet I had no plans of cooking, we decided to go out to eat. So, just where does The Storm go for a classy Christmas Eve Dinner???
WAFFLE HOUSE, 'cause that's how we roll...

Then it was home, for baths, pj's and The Night Before Christmas...

I love how in these pictures you can see Flash Flood's progression of boredom with the story.



I hate I don't have any good shots taken of Christmas morning. I was videoing, praying for that hilarious moment that would win us $10 grand on AFV, but no such luck. I could really use that $10 grand. I live with the Hudson Storm, so you know I'm not joking when I say, I could REALLY use it.

Pictures or no pictures, we had a ball. We opened presents from Santa, then from each other. This was the first year we let the kids draw names, and buy something for each other. Flash Flood gave Her Highness the boots she's been wanting. While Thunder, Lightning and Hail were all pleasantly surprised to find they had somehow all ended up giving each other the same toy shot gun. It was fun to watch them open their gifts, then squeal, "AHHHHH! THANK-YOU!!" to each other.

Then, as soon as we were done opening Santa's loot, we took off for Bert's family's Christmas.

There was lots of spoiling from Grandmama, along with some bonding time with Aunt Hilaree, Uncle Mike and Uncle Sawyer...

Mix in a Christmas lunch with Bert's maternal grandmother, and all his aunts, uncles, cousins, then a fish fry dinner with his Dad, and all of his extended family and well,

you get one worn out bunch....

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Love, Big Momma & The Hudson Storm

"I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery!"

~Ellen Griswold, Christmas Vacation

This is my family. (Minus one niece, who was napping at the time this photo was taken.) Those are my parents, front and center, AKA: Grandy & Cookie. I have two older brothers and two younger sisters. Between the five of us, we have 14 children, with Her Highness being the oldest at the rightful old age of SEVEN. You read that right. There are 14 grandchildren running around at our gatherings, ages seven and under. It gets even better... Only five of which are girls. Yes, that means NINE BOYS ages SIX and under, with Thunder leading the pack. To say our get togethers are lively, is putting it mildly. Lively, fun, LOUD, fun, tiring, fun, and a ton of work for Cookie & Grandy, but a ton of fun too. Here's just a brief recap...

A VERY MAYNARD CHRISTMAS 2010

My beautiful baby sister (who is a twin), with her precious twins. Couldn't you just eat them UP?

And of course a silly cousin pic....

We always go on several hikes/walks/bear hunts in effort to release some of the energy those NINE BOYS like to bring along. Energy is so wasted on the young...

My sister's newest trick to get our boys to smile for the camera, she would say each time, "Hey, this time I need a serious pose okay? No smiling, just a serious face for the camera please." Worked like a charm every time. Hence, the silly grin Hail has on his face. And, the pic after that is Her Highness cuddling up next to her Uncle Matt. A place she likes to be...

Every visit, many hours are spent down in Cookie's Corner. Which to us growing up was known simply as the basement. Cookie tried to make it a playroom, but it was much too dark and damp for us to stay down there for very long. Fast forward 20 years, and suddenly the basement is a tricked out playroom that Richy Rich himself would be jealous of. Sometimes I wonder if Cookie has lost her mind when it comes to these grandchildren. Other times, I'm certain she has.

In the picture below, the boys aren't in time out, nor are they praying. I think they were playing a treasure hunt game of some sort that Cookie made up. Not really sure. All I know is, when I walked down stairs, this is how they were....

Cookie served Christmas lunch to all the Grands down in Cookie's Corner this year, so they wouldn't have to wait as long for the adult meal that was being cooked and served later, by my Daddy Dearest. Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets were on the menu, along with other favorites such as cheese puffs, fruit cups, and Yoo-hoo. You can't tell from these pictures, but the lights were low, with glowing snowmen as the centerpieces, Christmas carols were blaring from the stereo, and everyone was given a jingle bell to wear. When it comes to the Grands, I no longer have any idea who my mother is...

Further proof that the lady who was once known to the five of us as "Momma,"

has completely transformed into our children's "COOKIE"...

As the grands were finishing lunch, a special visitor arrived...

He stayed a while, patiently listening to our never-ending wish lists, followed by a seemingly never-ending photo shoot...

Sweet Santa, he earned his milk and cookies that day...

After telling Santa goodbye, we put the little ones down for a nap, and the bigger ones down in Cookie's Corner to play, while the grown-ups enjoyed a feast prepared by Grandy. For as long as I can remember, my Daddy has prepared a huge traditional Christmas dinner, with all the homemade fixings you could possibly imagine. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, quiche, sweet corn casserole, just to name a few of the items on our menu...

Before cutting the turkey, it's a Maynard tradition that my Daddy stand at the head of the table and announce each dish. In typical Maynard fashion, we are super corny and "Oooh" then "Ahhh" in unison as each dish is introduced. I believe we saw that on Mickey's Christmas Carol when we were itty bitties, and it just stuck. For 20+ years we've done that. And for nearly that long, whenever the rolls are getting passed around the table, someone, usually my brother Nick, will ask, "You wanna roll, or you wanna sit there??" Never gets old. Mix that in with the constant movie quotes from Christmas Vacation and White Christmas and voila! You've got

A Very Maynard Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you, from all TWENTY-SIX of us Maynards!