I had intended to write this much early – but I got sidetracked by grief. Sigh. It’s getting better, it truly is. But I’ve found I’ve got to give myself the opportunity to feel it and not stuff it…not something I’m comfortable with!
Anyway – what I did for Christmas… đ
Christmas Eve we went to my mom’s house and enjoyed the company of my Mom, sister, bil, brother, sil, my nephew and nieces. Here are some pictures from our visit:
My Sister and my niece – but not one of her daughters!
My Sister, my niece and my SIL (her momma)
My brother and me (and my FAB new scarf I knit myself the day before – drop stitch scarf with gorgeous ribbon yarn)
Grammy (my mom) and my nieces
J1 was our ‘Santa’ (the one who hands out the gifts
The Princesses
J2 and my nephew wondering if it’s time yet! đ
THEN, we tried to go to church – but we got the time wrong so we missed. Fortunately Eric went early as he was doing a monologue. He was Gaspar – a Magi:
After the evening was over, we went home and decided that due to church the next day, we’d better open our gifts that evening. The boys were thrilled!
The quickly got in their PJs
And, then we opened presents
This was the first year they really bought gifts for each other – and they were almost more excited to see their brother’s reactions to what they received as opposed to what they were given.
Of course, our favorite gifts were:
Finally, the kids went to bed so we could fill their stockings:
Christmas morning we opened the gifts in our stocking and look what Santa snuck in mine:
DH would like everyone to know that this MORE than makes up for the vacuum cleaner incident! đ Yes, sweetie – you’re forgiven!!
In the afternoon, we congregated at my MIL & FIL’s house (next door – we are blessed!) Let’s see there was our family (5), my MIL & FIL (2), My SIL’s family (4), My other SIL’s family (2) and my BIL’s family (7) and my mom (1)- so that’s 21 people!!
Here is a group shot (my mom took the pic):
and another one – can you tell who didn’t hear that this was supposed to be a silly shot? LOL
J1 was thrilled to get this C3PO bank for his room
Here’s a great shot of my mom, my mil and my fil:
And, my FIL’s ingenious way to hang the families stockings
OK, that was our holiday. There were a couple of hard things but that’s life. Overall, it was one of the best Christmas’ I can remember.
