On Wednesday, December 21st, we planned our family Christmas. Just the six of us and special people that are framily (friends that are like family). . .this year is was Marla and the Maxwells. I haven't spent time blogging like usual this year, but the Maxwells are dear friends/neighbors we have become close to over this last year. So. . .we set up schedules a few weeks ago, Thomas took the night off work, and we planned our framily Christmas.
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| Margaret & Marla |
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| The Maxwells |
For the last several years, I have made the same "special" meal for "our" Christmas -- beef tenderloin, saute onions & mushrooms, twice-baked potatoes, bread and asparagus. This year we added Grandma's corn casserole and Barbara brought a pea & radish salad -- delish!
Marie had set a beautiful table earlier in the day -- I tell ya, this year I could NOT have done it without all of the kiddos help in various capacities. We didn't get out of school until the day before and I had been up late the night before grading exams so this was truly a family affair. Marie even dug out my Christmas dishes that I haven't had out in a couple of years -- it was so good to see them again!
Marie settled in the rocking chair. . .
Marla curled up in one of the recliners and Margaret kicked out in the other. . .
The Maxwells are very talented and have been building their house from the ground up. They do everything. . .but I hadn't seen them do metalworking. Earlier this month when I was at a fair I found this metal sign that is our state with the word "home" cut out in it. I hope it's something they will enjoy in their new home.
The girls thought it would be super-fun to tease Marla with an enormous gift. . .which she kept opening. . .and opening. . .a tote to a cooler to a large mailing box, shoe box, etc. Finally she reached the "prize". . .a necklace Marie and I had found for her at a boutique we knew she liked.
The Maxwells were overly-generous with gift cards for the four older kids and then a special certificate for Frederick. . .
And remember I said that they could do anything?!? They made Tom and I PENS. Ball-point pens! They are sooooo cool!!
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| That pen! Barbara MADE it!! I wish I would have had Tom's in this picture too -- his is wood. |
Thank you, Marla's family, for all of the treats and goodies!
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| Thomas going through all of the candy (and picking the best for himself?) |
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| Just because I don't have many of this guy -- I think this was his mug from Marie. It says something like, "I'm your gift for putting up with the others" or something like that -- ha! |
I think Frederick is discussing the "particulars" of his gift (when can we start? when can I choose? how many can I choose?) and Barbara prepared her sought-after-by-this-family dessert -- cheesecake!!!
Was Thomas protecting his loot while eating his cheesecake?? We all thought, when we bought his Christmas gifts, that he would be leaving for college in January. Plans have since changed but we still gave him his sheets and comforter set -- he can enjoy them here until he heads off in August.
The next day, Tom brought home my gift. We sold our van this fall and I have been (mostly) driving Tom's car -- he bought a new-to-him vehicle this summer to tow the boat. The car is a couple of years old but, with no "one driver" it doesn't get the love and attention it should on a regular basis. . .so. . .my gift was having the car detailed so I can become the owner of this car!! Yea!!! It looks really, really nice (even the engine was detailed!) and I'm so happy to call it "mine".
Friday we were up-and-at-em early -- dropped the dog at the kennel and then on the road up north for Christmas with family!!
When we arrived we hung out with my mom for a bit as well as my sister. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures at church that night (boo) but did get this one of Mom and her only grandsons at dinner afterward:
Last year we didn't go "home" for Christmas, but when we do we generally go to this Christmas program at my sister's church and then out to dinner with Mom. Sometimes it's lots of us -- this year it was just the six of us and Susan, my youngest niece. AVJ had an early-morning swim practice so her parents took her home before our (late) dinner. Chinese this year -- yum!
I can't get my picture to turn right now -- not only do we have to haul Santa presents up when we go (some years I'm on top of it and have many delivered, but this year we shopped pretty early and didn't really decide on which were going to be from us and which from Santa until right before we left) but also had shopped and wrapped my mom's gifts too. I laid them all out for her with Post-its so she could write out the tags. Yes, each kid has a different paper -- it keeps things organized ;)
Christmas Eve I got to spend some time with this precious one and her awesome mother!!
She looks SO MUCH like her mother when she was this age (it's unbelievable how quickly life circles around!!). I love, love, love spending time with this family -- and Marie enjoyed it too :)
After we left My Favorite Muffin (a favorite place to meet Dayton friends) we went over to see this little one's great-grandparents whom we love and adore. No pictures this year -- not sure why? But it was a good visit with them and they were glad to see Tom, Marie, and Thomas too.
That evening my sister's house was, of course, decked out beautifully. She had our entire family (my brother was in CO this year so missed out), my in-laws, and some friends of hers over for dinner and we exchanged some family gifts.
Dinner is always amazing - this year we could choose from beef or turkey, lots of sides, and lots of different pies along with an assortment of cookies and treats that Marie had put together for all of these get-togethers. I think we ALL gained at least five pounds when it was all said and done.
Looks like they were playing with Grandpa Fred :)
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| FINALLY - a picture of Susan :) |
We even had a little time outside next to the fire. It was too cold to stay out long. . .but it was a beautiful night with a welcome fire.
My big gift to all the grandparents this year (my mom, my dad, and the Bells) were frames for all of their grandchildren with Thomas's graduation picture in the first one. I put graduation dates of all the others in the other ones, in case they want to display all of the frames at once -- like my mom has done -- or pull them out each year, like the Bells are planning on doing.
Tom spent at least two hours hanging my mom's collection the day after Christmas -- I love how it turned out!!
Mom and her girls. . .Dad with his. . .
Here's a fun little height perspective. . .:)
He is just about an inch taller than his dad now too. . .
We did something we have never done before -- we all spent Christmas Eve in different houses -- some went to Dayton with Nana & Grandpa Fred, some stayed with the VJ's, and we stayed with my mom. It was very different waking up and not going straight to the tree. . .straight to "see what Santa left". . .but instead driving over to my sister's to pick up a couple of kids, then heading 40 minutes north to see the rest of the kiddos and our family. Different but not bad. It's kinda nice that the kiddos are older now and we can be a bit more leisurely in the morning. . .
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| Santa came!!! |
Breakfast, compliments of Nana and Marie. . .Tom (no grain, no sugar) even decided that he should indulge in some pancakes too :)
Giant Uno cards were on the list. . .as was the expensive Patagonia shirt. . .and anytime you give Margaret clothes, jewelry, or make-up you've pretty much done the right thing.
That was a family game from Santa and a hat that ended up being a hit (I wore it for a walk later that night -- a little big but WARM).
The question begs. . .will this pack of cards be enough to make it through the year??
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| And some special friends stopped by before we ate (Debbie on the left. . .I think that's the back of Jennifer's head on the right). . .it was was great to see them! |
After dinner, but before dessert (more pies, cookies, and candy!), we had one more batch of gifts to give. . .my mom to my kids.
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| Margaret (14), Frederick (13), Mom, Marie (16), and Thomas (18) |
My favorite picture of all, though is this last one. It is now my Facebook banner and probably will remain so for a very, very long time. All four of our children with all four of their wonderful, spectacular grandparents. What a very special, very memorable Christmas 2016 was.
And now. . .back to school for me tomorrow!! This post only took three days to write :)
Love,
Jenni
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