Canfield Group for Christmas

Gathering for a party with Matt's Grandma Canfield is an expected part of each Christmas season. Using the large open clubhouse at her place, we start the night off with a low-key dinner and end up circled for an annual round of white elephants.

With the group of great-grandkids expanding, this night can be explained as nothing less than loud chaos. In such jolly chaos, I have NEVER been able to capture any good pictures of this side of Matt's family. Action is fuzzy. Heads are turned. Kids sprint up and down halls regardless of how many "be calm" discussions were had in the various cars. And, it is hard to see who is opening what.

So, a few nights ago as things were winding down with "is there anything else you want to do?" among Marlene (G'ma Canfield) and Caren and Cindee (her two remaining daughters), I threw out the idea of gathering for a picture. I knew it was a crazy idea in a group this large. And I knew it wasn't my immediate blood I was requesting it of. But, in journaling our other personal history blog, it has become especially obvious that I have no pictures of these cousins of Matt...

Thanks to a self-timed camera, we captured all that were there. G'ma Canfield in the middle. Caren and Matt. Their five scattered kids. The five kids' kids. Cindee and Rick. Their five kids. Their kids' kids! People were pleasant. People smiled!

I am printing and framing a copy of the picture for Grandma Canfield. It's not professional quality, but with a bow around it, can there be a much better gift than family together?

Tonight, we gather again with Matt's immediate siblings at his parents' house. Satisfied with this picture...I plan to sit back and let the camera rest. Rumor has it that a Santa may appear for the little ones...but, I've got a picture of that this season (and I'll probably be too busy dealing with questions of why his beard is so different than a few weeks ago!).