Christmas at the farm is always the best part about Christmas. I speak for all of the grandchildren when I say that I look forward to the 26th when we head to the Bluff House. Christmas at the farm has changed a lot over the course of 10 years, but no matter what changes, it is always full of fun and family. When I was younger, we would head down on Christmas day. We would pack up our presents and drive on down. We usually would have dinner that night, too. Okay, dinner isn’t exactly correct. This meal is more like a feast! Everyone comes over, and they all bring a dish. Of course, my favorite dish is pretzel salad, always made by Aunt Martha and Uncle Jimmy.
We would have dinner in the hall of the Bluff House, but as our family has changed and grown, we decided we needed a new plan. So, the Bluff House men decided to build a shelter! This shelter is big enough to hold 5 big tables, a giant Christmas tree, a stage, and 11 kids!
Ever since the stage was re-installed, we have put on a Christmas show every year. And the past two years we have assigned everyone a “day of christmas,” and done an acapella The Twelve Days Of Christmas.
It has also been nice to welcome the newest members into the family: Keaton (Delaney’s husband), Pippa Teauge (baby), and Jonathan Brewbaker (baby).
And now, instead of all of the adults getting every kid a gift, the adults now draw names for the child they have to get a gift for.
This year the senior kids (me, Henry, and Brigie) spent the night at Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Martha’s house. That was a treat that we all enjoyed.
We also had a spaghetti dinner with the Brewbakers at the shelter one night, and also enjoyed things like hot dogs and smores (roasted over the fire), and rice krispie treats (made by me)!
One of our favorite wintertime farm traditions is the hayride! We get all bundled up and pile into the wagon Mama helped make. It is connected to Grandpa’s tractor. Then we drive around and look at the stars. The past couple of years we have added on to this tradition by going to the cabin for smores and hot chocolate. Yum!
We have had many pets join the family as well. Over two years we have welcomed Frankie (The Lay’s bunny), Homer (The Teague’s dog), and the most recent one Queenie (The Lay’s bunny).
As you can see, Christmastime is always a very exciting time for everyone. But in all of it, we can’t forget what Christmas truly is about: the birth of Jesus Christ! By doing these things we try to honor the Lord in all that we do. Overall, I love a good ol’ country Christmas! I have the privilege of being the oldest grandchild, so I have seen the most change. But every year the same thing remains: family is great! And we have Great-Grandpa to thank, for he started it all. This is a farm Christmas.
written by Vivi, age 12
