Friday, December 26, 2008

So this is Christmas
And what have you done? Another year over
And a new one just begun

I'm still singing the songs...but the calendar says Christmas is over! And it was a good one at our place.

    We had the whitest Christmas in a very long time...and it felt much more Christmassy than our usual west coast weather. The snow fell all morning on the 24th...and my visitors came across the field on their horse and sleigh!

They made a few snow angels for me...and they were on their way.

    Sometime in the afternoon we learned that the evening church service was cancelled...due to road conditions! What? Come snow or high winds...we would have been there...we wouldn't miss those 'choirs of little angels' singing because of a little (well...maybe a lot!) of snow. Our 'after church appetizer night' became an all evening event. Baby Maelyn was the first to arrive in her chariot ...


...wearing a sweater set that her mommy once wore...and quite happy to spend the evening with this noisy throng.


Emme and Spencer perched themselves on the bar stools...so they could keep guard over the Christmas sweets! An appetizer buffet on Christmas Eve...with family...while the snow is falling outside...is just about the perfect way to celebrate the occasion. We changed things up a little this year. Tradition has it that Santa shows up at the door on Christmas morning...while we are all at the table enjoying brunch. Emme and Spencer know the drill...and are waiting for 'Grandpa Santa' to disappear from the table...and show up minutes later at the door, in costume. Well, since it was snowing so hard...Santa had to start his rounds early this year...and suddenly showed up at the door as we were still nibbling on our appetizers. The grands were surprised all right...but not nearly as startled as Broni, who nearly fell off her chair.

 
Eventually, they all were coaxed onto Santa's lap...as you can tell, Ranen was not too thrilled about the whole thing! She wasn't really convinced that scary looking man was Grandpa Santa. Santa brought the stockings early...
...and a Christmas pillow for each of the grands.

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night! And with that...Santa disappeared down the hall...and was gone.

It wasn't long before they were trying out the pillows on the floor...and soon they were on their way out the door...'with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads'. Christmas morning...and the farm chores began long before we knew that we were in for a glorious sunny Christmas Day. And here's why we don't pray for white Christmas's on a dairy farm...the snowy weather usually makes for a whole lot more work! On Christmas morning the barnyard needed clearing...so that the milk truck could pick up the milk as scheduled. But before that happened yesterday...a cow had managed to get her head stuck under the bars of her 'sick pen'. That called for hack-sawing through penning...and eventually freeing the distressed animal. But in the meantime...the milk truck arrived and got stuck. And all that while the guys were trying to hurry...so they could have some family time on Christmas Day.

We had our traditional brunch with the gang late in the morning...and then gathered in the great room to open gifts. I hardly remember what this looked like before the grandkids arrived...

 
...but I think I like this picture a whole lot better! What fun we had. (Oh yes...you may notice that thermos in the lower left corner of the photo once again. One of these days I'll tell you why it always shows up...when Tim is around.)

 
The three youngest were all getting the same gift from Grammy and Grandpa this year...so they opened them at the same time.

 

They were quite overjoyed with their 'little people' nativity sets...although Ryder was not too thrilled with having to wait until we were done opening gifts before he could pull off the packaging.

Soon enough...they had had Baby Jesus in the manger...and were acting out the Christmas story.


Emme and Spencer opened their gifts...NIV Adventure Bibles in pink and blue...and Emme read the Christmas story to us from the second chapter of Luke. Move over Heidi...I think Emme or Spencer will be reading the Christmas story to us from now on.

 

Maelyn needed a little help in opening her gifts this year...

  ...so Mommy had many packages to open. And at the rate she is growing...that little sweater dress will be fitting her in no time!

Time flies when you are having fun...

 

...and before long Ryder had his soo-soo and Ranen was sitting on Grandpa's lap and looking very sleepy. It was two o'clock and time for afternoon naps.


Lisa and Ranen bid us all farewell...we sent a 'brunch' plate for Kris who had to work on Christmas Day this year. Dairy farmers aren't the only ones who don't get statutory vacation days!
While afternoon chores were happening...Ryder had his nap...and Heidi, Maelyn and I went for a short walk in the snow.


All these Christmas activities are rather draining...and Maelyn decide it was time for a little break.
We pulled out the games...played Mexican train and Uno Attack. You don't actually have to know how to play Uno attack to play the game...the fun is in pushing the button and watching the cards fly out (ask Ryder)!

 

The sun set on a beautiful Christmas Day...and we sat around the table one more time...and then spent the evening watching old homemade videos...of the family in days gone by.

And that was Christmas 2008...a wonderful time together with family...celebrating the birth of our Saviour so long ago.

17 comments:

  1. i remember when we used to stay at family gatherings all!
    it looks like you had alot of fun with the whole bunch.

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  2. What a lovely gathering you had! Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

    Kristina

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  3. Judy .. .your Christmas looks like it was wonderful. I so relate to the farming notes. . .Terry was doing double duty yesterday too with extra things to deal with because of the snow. . and my brunch was baking in the oven with the Turkey.
    I love the pictures of your grands, I'm so delighted you can share them with us. . .and the picture of Ranen and Lisa is especially beautiful.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your Christmas with us. Your grandchildren appear to be everything a grandmother dreams of. You obviously had a lovely day. All the best for 2009.

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  5. Thank you Judy for sharing your Christmas with us! And all the pics..wonderful! Loved the 'horse and sleigh'.
    Great to see your family and your lovely table of Christmas goodies!

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  6. Christmas looked fantastic at your house! I love the fact that your family all gathers around and comes to celebrate together. It looks so neat. That is something I wish we had had this year, but it wasn't to be. Have a great rest of the season and I hope it warms up soon! Take care!
    Sue

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  7. I was here last night and couldn't get a comment to post so I'll try again. Just had the same problem at Lovella's so it must be me.

    Loved seeing all the grands...they really are beautiful children and Ryder just cracks us up with his expressions. Course, Maelyn is taking after him with hers as we burst out laughing when her pic scrolled up. So cute!

    It always looks as if LOVE lives at your house and I know that that is true.

    Gee, Santa's never looked so good! :D

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  8. Thank you for sharing your Christmas with us! I'm not as organized as I could be, so haven't downloaded any photos yet. Wasn't it a treat to have the snow? We don't farm, but we do have animals that need to be watered by hand and fed, and those chores had to be done through the storms. As I write, the snow is up past the window sills on the outside of the house - quite a snowfall for all of us here! We made it to church on Christmas Day, but it wasn't an easy drive through the hills and the service was sparsely attended - it all added up to a very cosy feeling of togetherness for those of us who made it!

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  9. What a wonderful day and evening you had. It looked like the most perfect Christmas. I love the look from your upstairs shooting downwards.
    That farming stuff....that's another story eh? We had feed motors go gaput on us on Christmas Day.
    Murphys Law. Yup, we don't get Stats.
    A busy house hold, a busy granny and Santa and I think it's time to take a rest. Hope you have some time to put up your legs.

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  10. Judy you had a wonderful gathering at your home on Christmas! What fun! The kids are just growing so fast! Incredible!

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  11. Sounds like you had a very cute Christmas! Those kids all melt my heart, they are so sweet.

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  12. Oh Judy...this was such a fun post to look through. I felt like I was celebrating right along with you all. What great shots of the kids....the snow...the presents and food. I can see that your family is very special indeed.

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  13. I must say that everything looks so Christmasy and warm. Your family is beautiful. I love the nativity sets. Also, the snow was so pretty and neat on your blog too. We have had warm weather, but it is chilly in Atlanta too night. Your buffet looked yummy. I know you had a great time. Praise the Lord for our sweet families!

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  14. Beautiful. The children, the setting, the weather, the LOVE!
    Memories layered for savoring over and over again.

    I do like remembering that Advent Season is the weeks before Christmas Day, and the Christmas Season lasts twelve days, until Jan 6th.
    Christmas isn't over yet!
    Happy 5th Day of Christmas to you!

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  15. What a beautiful family you have, your grandbabies are sooo cute. My Mom also got my kids new NIV Bibles this year and it's been so exciting to see my 11 year old reading his every night. Merry Christmas!!

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  16. We gave our granddaughter the same Little people Nativity this year. She just loves it. Looks like you had a wonderful time with your family. Kathy

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  17. I enjoyed viewing all your Christmas magic. Seeing baby Maelyn's first Christmas is getting me all excited for next year with our new little one that is on the way.

    I loved the little people nativity sets. You must have found those on line...next year that will have to be on my list. How precious!

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson