I just got back from Christmas last week.
My mom's side of the family met in North Carolina, because we couldn't all meet in FL.
My mom, dad, uncle and I arrived Thursday night after 10 hours in the car. I slept most of the way...But then everytime we got off on an exit, my dad would yell "We're here!!!!!"....and that would end my 20 minute nap. I also had a horrible cold sore in my mouth, so I couldn't eat anything.
Thursday night was boring. Everyone just sat around the TV and watched CSI. Friday was fun though. Me and my cousin Lauren and my cousin Zack played cards during the day. Mostly spit, and then Egyptian Rat Scratch. We started getting too good at slapping the cards, so we started a rule where you had to slap your forehead before you could slap the cards. It's a good thing we brought advil.
Friday night was our big family dinner. We have an all Italian meal, homemade ravioli (this year, 50 meat, 150 cheese), Bracciole, and Italian Sausage. Every year there's a competition to see who can eat the most ravioli. Steve currently holds the record at 37. Jeremy usually competes, but he couldn't come this year. He's at a disadvantage anyway because he's allergic to dairy. This year, only Steve and Zack competed, and they both quit after 26.
After the dinner was our family game. This year, we decided to play Sound Off, which is basically charades, with sounds and really weird cards. We had played before at our family reunion 3 or 4 years ago, where my parents fought about copy machines and my uncle had to act out Shirley Temple. My team lost.
Saturday was our gift day. We played Egyptian rat scratch again, with head slapping. Then we got bored, so we decided to walk to the railroad tracks to make Zack pull up a railroad spike. It was freezing cold, so we found one as fast as we could. We got home, and my uncle wanted to teach Zack how to play the card game 99. His friend actually made it up, and it was really fun.
So then we opened presents. The other weird family tradition we have is that everyone gets a toothbrush in their stocking, and you have to put it on your forehead and guess what color it is. I guessed right, mine was purple. I got some weird stuff, like a flamingo nightlight, and this weird picture frame. But most everything was cool.
Sunday was the drive home. Once again I slept. This time, I had no cold sore. Unfortunately, this time I had a split lip.
It's good to be home. | 
