The holiday season is over, but a local family celebrated Christmas a little late.

Anyone who has a big family knows getting everyone together for the holidays can take some doing, but a local family takes took that effort to a whole new level Sunday.

"It's been eight years since we've been able to get this many people under one roof," said Joanne Kryger.

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"We had six biological children and we adopted 23," Kryger said.

Joanne and David Kryger were married in 1953. They started taking in foster children ten years later.

"And that started our journey really looking for siblings that nobody wanted to take," said Kryger.

Some have mental and physical challenges.

"We have to advocate for them," said David Kryger. "Some of them can't talk for themselves and are in wheelchairs."

Some just needed a home. Michael Kryger was taken in when he was six weeks old.

"Where I am today is definitely because of the help that they have given me," he said.

Michael followed in his dad's foot steps and joined the army. He even has a son of his own. Currently serving in Iraq, Michael is home on leave. That made the family reunion possible.

"I didn't think we'd pull it off," Joanne said.

Just like any family Christmas there was food, presents and stress. But if the Christmas season really is about family, this day couldn't have gone any better.

"When you see them in there with their smiles, it's worth everything they've been through," Joanne added.