Home for the Holidays

My sister Jody and Sara both came home for the Holidays, so the week after Christmas we spent a lot of time doing various activities with them.

Monday, everyone went to Branson to eat at out favorite restaurant, Lambert's: Home of the Throwed Rolls.

You'll never taste better home-cooked food from a restaurant.  And you get seconds of anything you finish (even steaks and ribs!)

There is always a long wait at Lambert's, so we opted to split up our party of 24 in order to wait only an hour.

(Just a disclaimer that I had to use many of my sister's pictures since I didn't get many)

The Hornbergers

The McBrides

The Berrys and Smiths

Yum Yum!

After filling up at Lambert's, we drove 30 minutes North to Springfield, Missouri to see Fantastic Caverns.  We all fit on a trailer and did a drive-thru ride of the cave.  After 10 straight minutes of  Miriam crying (she had just woken from a short nap in the car), Stan opted to let the rest of us enjoy the ride and took Miriam out of the cave.  Luckily they refunded his ticket.  At least they were there for the picture! 

There was some really spectacular sights and interesting history behind the cave.   It was fun to do something in the area we hadn't done before.

Tuesday we had a farewell breakfast for Sara at Cracker Barrel (you'll notice a lot of our activities revolve around food).

Thursday we celebrated Dad's birthday.

 Friday we went to my step-sister Tracy's wedding reception.

Eliza with Uncle Cace.

I'm not sure what was so funny, but doesn't it make you want to be in on it??

Dad and Janet.

Miriam enjoying her cupcake.

My sister Rebecca made their wedding cake.  She did an amazing job (as usual).

Tracy and Brad Nuttall.  Ahh, the newlyweds...

 Afterwards Jody, Cace, Stan and I went on a date to see the Crystal Bridges Art Museum.  More about that in another post.

Friday we rang in the New Year at Jared's house with LOTS of delicious food.  Jared got a smoker this past year and let me just say that we have ALL enjoyed it!  He smoked ribs and sausage that were aboslutely incredible!

I forgot to take pictures, but what you would have seen was playing games and eating more food.

Good thing for my body that the Holidays are over.  Now it's time to get into shape!

Happy New Year!  2011 has been a wonderful year with the birth of Eliza and much time spent with family and friends.

2012 is gonna be great!