Christmas days 9

In the midst of the bustle on one of those Christmas days, 

the newly pregnant mama and the dear old cat took a nap.  

This picture just makes me smile.

It wasn't all busy and noisy, laughter and prep work,

games and clean up.

There was rest, too.

Christmas days 8

And then our extended family came ...

More good food ...

more good conversations ...

more games ...

Christmas days 7

The kids draw names for gift giving.  One addition this year was to write a story about something you'd like to do with the person to whom you were giving a gift.  Two very creative stories were read aloud ...

Joel's fictional story for Kay about competing together in a water balloon competition ...

and Thomas's epic poem to Jonathan about their non-violent resistance to higher beer prices in Denver.  Both super creative, funny, and perfect for their recipients!  Lots of laughter ensued.

Some gifts are handmade, like this beautiful cowgirl cowl made for Kandyce by Kay.

Christmas morning was a sweet time of giving and receiving.

Christmas days 6

Christmas Eve Dinner Menu

Tandoori Turkey with tandoori gravy

Wild Rice

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pomegranate Seeds

Sweet Potato Casserole

Corn Pudding

Whole Wheat Rolls

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Prune Cake

Coffee and Tea

Christmas days 5

This young man came ...

and went, early.  Matthew left before Christmas to join his fiance, Kailie, and her family in Colorado.  So, there was a little early gift opening before he hopped on a plane.

Christmas days 4

For the second year in a row, my sister and I invited some of our little friends to bake and decorate cookies. It was a flour flying, color mixing, cookie painting, sprinkle spilling good time.  In addition to cookie cutting and decorating, we passed the baby around, read books, ate fish and rice and corn dogs and cookies and thoroughly enjoyed sharing this tradition with our friends.

Baby David from Burma with T from Vietnam

My sweet sister, Anne
with the kids

Ruth has learned what to do when we hold up the camera!

Kandyce and Lia

Serious business, this cookie decorating...

My beautiful niece, Annsley

Christmas days 3

We are a game playing family.  When the kids arrived, the games began.

Fish Bowl

Dominion ...

chess, steal-a-word, Taboo, Loaded Questions, Imaginif, backgammon ...

Christmas days 2

On Sunday, after spending an unexpected night in the Houston airport, these two arrived.  That handsome scholar son of mine talks with his hands.

So happy to have J and K here for an extended visit.

Christmas days 1

I'm thinking back over the last ten days, feeling very grateful for the gift of our family and the time we've had together this Christmas.  How about if I just go very slowly here, a picture at a time so I can frame a few of the special moments of these days ...

The big news this Christmas - these two are expecting!

T and K had already shared the news with us earlier in the month so we got to enjoy watching the reactions as they told others.  At least twice, people seriously did not believe them, truly thought they were joking, and had to be convinced that indeed, a baby is on the way.  I guess that's what you get for being a tease.

Grandbaby #3 is due in August and this one will be a North Carolina baby!  Pretty excited about that.