Merry Christmas!

The house that bustled with activity last night is quiet as I write this post.  Jeremy [our youngest] was home in bed with the flu, and unable to celebrate Christmas Eve with us, so daughter-in-law Samantha, and grandkids Isabella, Landon, and Ellie spent the night, and went home around noon today to have their Christmas tree with him.  

Middle son, Steve, gave Cokes with personalized labels to all the adults.

After Christmas Eve dinner we heard the Christmas Story read from Luke, chapter 2 by Isabella.

Then it was time for gift opening - beginning with the youngest and ending with the oldest. Jerry took videos of everyone opening their gifts, but in the flurry of activity I only got photos of the youngest three.

[Ellie]

[Landon]


[Isabella]

After opening presents the family watched Christmas Vacation [it's become a tradition], then it was game time with Catch Phrase and Apples to Apples.  My family loves to play games.  In between games we had our birthday cake for Jesus.

We missed having Tiffany and John with us on Christmas Eve this year.  It was the first Christmas Eve since Tiffany was born that she wasn't at our house.  John is a Worship Pastor, and their church had a Candlelight service they were a part of.  Below is an adorable Christmas photo they had taken.

[Tiffany, John and Ollie]

Below are the Christmas gifts I received... Fortnum & Mason Tea

~ London Tea Time hand soap from Bath and Body Works ~

~ DVD's to watch ~

~ Gift Cards ~

~ Brooke made me a beautiful fleece throw ~

~ Landon made an ornament for the Christmas tree ~

~ And Izzy and Ellie each did a canvas painting ~

And to help keep Christmas Eve dinners coming in the future I got two cast iron Ductch ovens [3.5 qt. and 5 qt.].

It's been a very Merry Christmas even if it is 47 degrees in Michigan with no snow! ;-)