Our Little Corner of the World

This year's Christmas season was special because we got to be with extended family after our COVID pause last year.

We started off with our Christmas get together with the kids. We always enjoy our time together.

Jacob liked his weighted blanket

Jake, Lizzie, Zach and Josie

This was the best we could do! The cat walked through one, the dog walked through another, the phone fell over... we were just glad to finally get one with all of us looking.

Zach, Josie, Jake, Lizzie, Philisha and Brian

Then we headed to southern Indiana. We had the Ellis Christmas on Christmas Eve at Dad and Karen's house. It was a great day full of games, yummy foods, laughs and gifts. Being together again was great!

Dad and Karen

We decided to annoy each other like we used to. I think it worked.

Me and my brothers - Jimmy, Philisha and Chris

Brian and I

Grandma and Grandpa Ellis with all the grandkids.

Back row - Kyra, Isaac, Karen, Darrell, Zach, Josie, Isaac and Ivy

Front row - Jacob and Lizzie

We were lucky to have everyone with us this year.

Jake, Lizzie, Philisha, Brian, Zach and Josie

Me, my brother Chris, and sister-in-law Lydia

Chris and the nieces and nephews.

Back row - Ivy, Kyra, Chris, Jacob, Zach, Isaac and Isaac

From row - Josie and Lizzie

Then we headed to Orleans for our Christmas morning Burton Christmas. It was a great few days of visiting, laughing, playing games, yummy food and gifts.

I love my little hometown all lit up for Christmas. Reminds me of a Hallmark movie.

Christmas morning at approximately 6:30 am!! There were 22 of us there

Some more of the crew...

and the final bunch.

Mamaw and the grandkids.

Back row - Brycen, Katie, Jake, Sue Ann, Lizzie Zach and Josie

Middle Row - Kacey, Conner and Kelsey

Front Row - Curtis

We were missing Ivy, Isaac, Kyra and Isaac

Lizzie and her cousin Katie. Katie is two years younger than Lizzie. In the 1 and 1/2 since they saw each other, Katie shot up and now is taller than than her older cousin!

All the kids

Brian, Philisha, Jimmy Lydia, Kelly, George, Butch and Chris

The "original" five

Jimmy, Philisha, Chris, Kelly and Butch

Josie, Zach and Papaw Burton

A big shout out to Jimmy and Lydia for letting us stay with them!

Lizzie and Lydia chilling

We headed back to Illinois for a few days of rest before the Giddens' family came for our annual Paragi/Giddens Christmas/New Years get together.

This year, Maya came home with Lizzie and I and stayed with us for a few days before the rest of her family arrived. We had a good time. Lizzie was a rockstar and acted as her playmate the entire two days!

Giving "Unkin Brian" goodnight hugs and kisses

We weren't sure she was actually going to come with us but at the last minute she decided she would! A car selfie to send to Unkin Brian and Jake to prove she was coming.

Playing is hard work.

Maya enjoyed Cali the kitten. Most of the time Cali enjoyed Maya!

Lizzie and Maya made a birthday cake for Molly.

She liked feeding the fist the first night. But she didn't like that it made her fingers stink so she was strictly watching from that point on!

Lizzie got out her old Barbies and Maya enjoyed playing with them.

She is showing Brian how this one sings.

Visiting Jacob at work and eating some fro-yo.

The Giddens arrived on the 29th for our get together. Unfortunately, Ed and Karen couldn't make it as Karen just had a hip replacement. We still had a great time visiting, laughing and playing lots of games.

Lizzie and Maya playing Sequence

These two watched a lot of football - Chad and Brian

Zach and Josie with the goat quilt Grandma Paragi made for them

Molly was sharing some kind of womanly wisdom with Lizzie

The cousins - Ben, Jake, Maya, Lizzie and Zach

Ben, Jake, Maya, Lizzie, Zach and Josie

We had to sneak in the annual brother/sister photo - Brian and Molly

and of course there is the annual goofy picture.

On their way out of town, Molly, Chad, Ben and Maya went to see Zach's house and meet his goats. Maya enjoyed them.

Zach, Maya and Maverick

Maya feeding the goats.

It was a great Christmas season. We saw almost everyone and got to reconnect! Now we take a three day breather and start school again soon!

29 years? Wow that is a long time. And yet, I can remember details of that day like it was yesterday.

It hasn't always been easy. But it has been worth it. I mean what do you expect when you put a type A with a type z (the farthest from a you can get)?

At our anniversary dinner we sat and talked and talked. We talked about the ways we are different. The ways we are the same. What we would tell our young selves if we could go back. What we regret most. What we are most proud of. What has surprised us the most. During this discussion we laughed and cried (well I cried) and both agreed we would it all over again in a heartbeat.

The Big Day - December 19th 1992

We had a lot more hair then but we have a lot more love now!