Christmas 2024

 

Our Christmas always begins the Saturday before 12/25 in Ohio with the Foster Cousins.  My dad was late getting there but we got Grandma with her grandkids!  What a wonderful tradition we have together.

We began Foster Family Favorites a couple of years ago instead of doing individual gifts.  We treat it as a "favorite things" party with each of us bringing two gifts (either identical or two different things) and we say why it's a "favorite".  This year we had a Pura, favorite lotion and shampoo, lottery tickets and wine, notebook and pen, Yeti items, puzzle and wineglasses, Carhart hat and gift certificates, candles and blankets. . .so.many.great.items.  We have a lot of fun with this.

AVJ was the big winner in scratch-offs!

The kids got Grandma some TN gear.  We hope she will be proud to wear it next year since this year they went down in flames so badly in the first round of playoffs :(. They also got Virginia something for her home!  

Stephen had great seats for the game so had to leave our family gathering early to get to Columbus.  Grandpa Foster came in just as he was leaving - we got a quick pic and he was out the door.

The Foster Family Calendar is something I do for anyone who wants one each year. . .Laura spent some time going through it before dinner

One of my favorite spreads was July, which showcased the newest additions to our families (the doggies) in their favorite vacation spots:  

We had a delicious meal and prepared for Tennessee's biggest game in decades

We got this picture from tailgating from friends that were there who ran into Stephen - this was a game I was NOT jealous to be missing in person.

Brain was the sole rep for OSU. . .and this year they just dominated.  We didn't even recognize our team.

This mom & daughter fell asleep - probably a better use of their time: 

The next day the VJ's took these lucky kiddos to the Bengals/Browns game and luckily the home team won that one!

As I was going through pictures I found this one of our dad with the boys - Ellie took it for us quickly before everyone had to leave to get to the game or head home and she said the lighting was bad.  Oh well, it's all I have so I'll post it anyway.  

Christmas Part 2 is Christmas Eve, starting with church.  This year Nancy joined us and the church we went to had photo stations set up which I thought was so nice.

We came home and prepared for our neighbors and Aunt Kathy and Grandpa Fred to join us.

We exchange gifts with our framily, the Maxwells, on Christmas Eve.  The doggies even had a few gifts!

We have figured out that appetizers and desserts (I forgot a picture of those!) are "enough" for Christmas Eve - we have the same crowd back on Christmas Day for that traditional meal :)

Santa delivered his last load this year - we've always done 3 gifts from him. . .

something to wear, something to read, and something to do.  It's been fun and *I* am the one who has wanted to keep it going all this time - ha!  

Christmas morning Stephen and Laura made breakfast for all of us :)

He did it all on his Blackstone so barely any cleanup in the kitchen!!

We took our time with gifts. . .the kids all exchanged names this year and did such a good job shopping for one another :). Erin even made sure there was something for her from her puppy under the tree!

I think it was the most expensive gift exchanged this year - ha!

We did Santa gifts last and then they all humored me and got a picture together.

This was a great picture of the boys and their grandparents too.

The day was a slow quiet one - a movie, took the dogs out, and played a new game that Laura got Robert - Unstable Unicorns. 

We had the same crew over for dinner later that night - our traditional meal is a beef tenderloin, potatoes, and a roasted vegetable.  Ms. Barbara also surprised us with a cheesecake!!

Stephen put the Blackstone to use again!

The kids all crowded around a small card table - I love that they love to be together (and that Rachel joined us for dinner)!  After dinner round ???? of gifts - time to exchange with Rachel :). She even had something for the doggies!

I love that everyone includes everyone in the holidays :)

One of my favorite gifts was from Rachel - this beautiful tea light in this nativity scene.  I will display this for years.

This is the sign of a great day. . .my kitchen before bed.

Waking up to a clean dishwasher (it was running) and reminders of a full house the night before truly is a GREAT way to start the day!

Ellie came up on the 26th, which was a Thursday, (Erin had to work) and, for some reason, I got no pictures of our gift exchange with her :(. 

It was a really pretty day and everyone who was home agreed to play pickleball so we headed out for that and Robert remembered to get a group picture!

We had hoped to do a few more things like this but time got away from us (as it usually does, right?). 

I think we've come up with another new tradition for December 26th - getting together with our traveling friends!!  Again, because my brain slipped on picture-taking, I have little to show for the evening (what I have below I filched off Connie's FB - luckily someone remembers to take a few and always posts) but it was a FUN one!!  We grilled burgers (veggie for Susan & Laura's friend), brought out ALL the leftovers, and played some new-to-us games.  It was a full evening and one I hope we continue in years to come. 

Here's our one-and-only picture, taken about midnight - ha!

It was a full Christmas season filled with LOTS of joy.  And I'm happy I took the time to record it.

I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah this week for Hello Monday.  Head over to check out how others have celebrated these last weeks and maybe find some new bloggers to follow this year!

Let's see what this New Year brings!

Love,

Jenni