December 20, 2025-Dennie Family Circle 2025

(click for today's pictures) 

• Marley didn't do as well last night and woke up twice, but the pottying in the house was much better today. She did have a big day and is completely worn out right now so I'm not too sure how she will sleep tonight.
• Robby helped me get the chicken for supper ready, and then he left to run some errands. Once Marley went to sleep, I started working on putting bows on the prizes, folding laundry, and doing a few more things to get supper ready.
• The kids all slept until noonish. When they did start stirring, Graham still had a little bit of school left to do-I just text him to see if he actually finished it. Keaton started on her brownies for tonight, Last night we made a box of ghiradelli brownies which were excellent. For tonight, Keaton wanted to make her cooking school brownies. The actual recipe calls for 12 eggs (you read that right), but we opted to just half it. She did have to brown the butter which took forever! I'm not sure if we ever did completely brown it correctly, but her brownies were very good so maybe it was worth all of the work.
• I had my shower, and before I knew it, I was rushing around directing people of what to put in the car. We had a laundry basket of presents, a bag of supplies for the minute to win it games, a laundry basket of prizes for the games, a laundry basket of food containing two crock pots, an ice chest, and a bag with Marley's things in it. However, I did forget toys for her, so we had to stop at Dollar General on the way to Grannymom's house tonight.
• This was Dennie family circle tonight. We started the evening with supper-Dana had enchiladas, Grnnymom had Mexican casserole, and I had chicken tacos. Plus there was rice, beans, and cheese dip. We pretty much finished off most of the food! It did help that we had a large crowd.
• After eating, we played some Minute to Win It Games. Anderson ended up playing the exact game that he played last year-maybe I need to come up with new games next year. There were prizes for all the games-Reagan won a Target gift card, Anderson and Graham chose lottery tickets (they won 5 and 2), Whitman opted for Christmas tree cakes, and Campbell and Keaton both picked chocolate candy as their prizes. 
• After the games and prizes were awarded, we passed out Christmas presents. Robby got an extremely bright flash light which will come in handy for him. I opened a basket full of goodies from Mississippi-a set of mugs, rice, a dish towel, and jelly. 
• The kids all racked up as well-cash, candy, gift cards, plus gifts from Grannymom. Reagan had a box of hair and face things, Anderson opened a shirt and some of his favorite drinks, Graham had a sweatshirt and shorts, Campbell opened some clothes, Keaton had clothes as well in her box, and Whitman had a slushie maker and two games (one he is playing right now). 
• Anderson and Campbell also received birthday presents plus we celebrated Les, Shelley, and Dana's birthdays too. After all the presents were opened, it was time for dessert-there were tons of different desserts to go with the cheesecake Robby bought and Keaton's brownies.
• We stayed for a while and visiting, but when we came home, it took everyone to unload the car. We all put away our things, and Whitman went right to work on his game. It was a pretty perfect Dennie family circle this evening.