Friday, December 27, 2013

Christmas-2013

We had a wonderful Christmas!  And even though all our family could not be with us, (we missed our Yuma family), Jaron & Michelle were able to drive all the way here just to spend two precious days with us.  Those two days were filled with fun:  cousins enjoying being together again, playing games, going sledding, eating too much food, , kids beside themselves with excitement and anticipation, ripping open presents, etc.  There were special times too: gifts of service, gifts to Jesus, reading and acting out the Christmas story, and a special trip to Gavin's grave on Christmas eve to light a luminara and sing carols. 

Of the 270 photos I took, it was hard to pick just a few to post here.  The rest I've uploaded to Smugmug.

Here we are.  It was quite a job getting all the little bodies to hold still while the timer on the camera counted down to take the photo.  (Emily A. is holding a new puppy she is tending that will be a Christmas present for her sister's children.)

The 'girls' enjoying each other.  On Christmas eve morning Tiera, Michelle, Evelyn and I picked up Kneader's french toast and took breakfast to Emily K. and Crew.  We ate and had a fun visit.

The 'boys'......tell me how you REALLY feel about having your pictures taken!!!  They also got together and met Dalin for lunch on Christmas eve day.  (He was working that day.)  One of my greatest blessings is knowing that all our children and children-in-law (???), get along, and enjoy being together.

Cousins having fun and showing off their new PJs.

Evelyn and Crew showing off their Christmas outfits.

Grandma Great meets Evelyn and gets a big smile.

Grandma Great meets Crew and gets a sleepy smile.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to have a spiritual reenactment of the nativity with a bunch of rowdy boys hyped up on Christmas anticipation?   I think we had more laughs than were probably appropriate! Crew played his part as baby Jesus perfectly, as did Evelyn who played the angel.  It went downhill from there.  The wise men and shepherds kept trading head gear and couldn't decide who they wanted to be.  One or two were sure that a mistake was made and the presents the wise men were carrying couldn't possibly be for baby Jesus.  And then there was the problem with Mary!  Since we had no age appropriate girl, Owen saw a great opportunity and decided that for $6 he would play the part.  He almost backed out, however, when Tiera brought out her Princess Leia wig from Halloween for him to wear as part of Mary's outfit. 

What a wonderful Christmas we had, full of family memories!

6 comments:

  1. I loved reading this blog post! First, I love the group picture! Such a great picture of you all. I loved seeing the cute newborns. That is so special to have them born fairly close to Christmas. I agree doing a nativity reenactment with little kids can be pretty entertaining! It is so fun to enjoy these special years with little kids around!

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  2. This post was priceless! I would say you have a lifetime of blackmail with that photo of Owen. So cute. Loved seeing the new babies and Grandma L. at your house. It is such a blessing to get an ENTIRE family photo. That is the best part.

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  3. Christmas is about family time. It looks like you had a great time together.

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  4. I can't imagine Evelyn in a few years trying to keep up with all those boy cousins, but I'm sure if she's anything like Michelle she'll do fine. All of them are so cute. Glad you had a nice Christmas.

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  5. That will be a Christmas to remember! Those babies are beautiful!

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  6. That is what Christmas is all about. Too bad Amber and her family couldn't be there.

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