Family Member Spot Light

Family Member Spot Light! Kelli and I have decided that we will highlight a new family member every couple of weeks leading up to Christmas. The spot lights are intended to help both the McEntire and Williams families get to know one another. The spot light will supply basic biographic information as well interesting information about each family member. The spot light will also make gift buying a snap. As part of the spot lights we will be adding a link to each person's Amazon.com wish list. So...if you don't already have one follow the link to create an Amazon.com Wish List

Gift Exchange Ideas - Yay or Nay

So, I had a thought the other day regarding gift exchange for Christmas this year. We don't want people to spend too much money since you've already spent enough to get yourselves to Chicago and for David and I that is gift enough, but because gift giving is such a large part of the holiday we thought we'd open it up for discussion to see if anyone would be interested in a gift exchange. Some ideas we had:

• Stockings instead of wrapped gifts - We could do a name exchange amongst our whole group or even within each family so that each person would receive a stocking by one other member of the group or family. You would spend no more than $25 (we can go with a smaller amount as well, I just threw that number out there to start with) and can fill it with small gifts, candy, whatever as long as it's under the agreed upon amount.
• Wrapped gifts - similar deal, we could do a name exchange so that each person gets at least one gift to open and set the limit at $25 (or whatever is agreed upon) or we could get a small gift for each person within the whole group or within our individual families, that is no more than $10-$15. To make it even easier, we could even choose specifically what the gift will be. For example, we'd do a DVD, Book, CD or other type of exchange.

I personally think that if we do decide to do gifts of some kind then drawing names is a good idea because it is the least expensive way to go and each person will get something to open on Christmas. And, as said earlier, we could throw every one's name into a hat and draw amongst both families or since this is the first time you'll meeting each other and don't know each other very well yet, we could just draw names amongst our own families as well. Let's us know what you think and take it from there.

Tickets Booked

Yay! The McEntire and Williams Families are booked (well, most of them) for Chicago! In light of this we wanted to make sure everyone knew that you're welcome to come as early and stay as long as you'd like. Here's the flights that everyone has booked so far:

Kelli's parents: 12/22 (1:00PM) - 12/28 (11:35AM) Midway Airport
Kelli's sister: 12/17 (1:00PM)- 12/27 (8:25am) Midway Airport
Kelli's brother: TBD

David's parents: 12/23 (9:30AM) - 12/26 (6:10PM) Midway Airport
David's sister: 12/23 (9:30AM) - 12/26 (6:10PM) Midway Airport


We're happy to pick people up from either airport at anytime so book whichever flights offer you the best price and flight times.

Happy booking...

Christmas - Bringing families together since the birth of Christ!

This blog is being created to provide information about spending Christmas in Chicago with the Williams and McEntire Clans. Not only will this festive occasion give us the opportunity to share the holiday with both our families, but it will give every member of our families a chance to meet each other as well.

More information is to come and we invite you to check back from time to time to get updates on how the plans are progressing. We'll have more information, including links on how/where to book your airfare and/or hotel accommodations (if needed), menu planning and more...

David & Kelli