Christmas 7: Lazy Day

The following morning we woke up slow 

until it was time for d&k&a to be on their way.

And then?

We sat around in cozy pants.

I read my Christmas book.
[Every Christmas, it seems I read an entire book in one day...]

My mother watched football.

[Telling the team her thoughts at each play along the way...]

My father....I don't even know where he was.

But then,

 a fire and games.

First, this beautiful one,

 bird bingo,

 given to Dad by me.

And then, round after round of Dutch Blitz,

[also given by me...]

until we were ready to just sit before the fire again.

I knit. My mother read.

My father watched tv.

A lovely long and lazy day.

Christmas 6: With Siblings and Kids

Late Christmas night,

Dave & Kara & Asher arrived.

Hence, our Christmas day began the next morning,

 over breakfast.

 We talked all together, lazy and slow.

There were kitchen preparations together for late-in-the-day events, 

but after a while the littlest one awoke 

and they traveled on over to see Great-Grandma.

 I settled down to wait for returns and arrivals,

and for the togetherness to begin.

[Asher says:

  Give those presents,

 to me!]

[The most grateful

 and excited little girl,

 plays with her gifts--

 and includes the ones she loves the most--

 immediately.]

 [She also helps the other little one,

 enjoy his new book too.]

 [This is Asher's declaration face,

 as he tells his parents what he received from Grandma and Grandpa.]

 [And this is how he shows his appreciation,

 for a gift that is larger than he...]

Even with more gifts to go, 

we settled around the table for Christmas Jambalaya.

I sat back, and soaked it in.

Precious time, with siblings and kids.

Christmas 5a: These Two

These two sisters are hilarious when together,
and here are pictures to remember it.

[Notice the grandmother, sleeping.]

They crack each other up,

and it is entertaining for all...

Christmas 5: Christmas Day

Some of my earliest memories include staring up at the peaked roof of this church building, and singing. 

So began my Christmas morning.

Then we headed to Uncle John & Aunt Nancy's,

for Christmas togetherness.

Some traditions have been born,

these poppers with their treats 

being the start to brunch.

Then, later, stockings.

Bringing me back to my childhood, 

to Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's,

stockings and all of their tiny treats are one of my favorite things.

We sat together  

and enjoyed each other's reactions

telling stories 

and laughing at ourselves.

We closed the evening with a game,

our bellies full and our hearts warmed.

Christmas 4: Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, I drove to NJ, 

for time with my mother's family.

There was the traditional hors d'oeuvres,

with typical shenanigans to boot.

There were gifts,

and confusion as to what the gifts were

which made us laugh at the us-ness of it,

all the way to tears.

There was cousin time

and glowing angels

given by this sweet lady.

And though we kept the door open and the fireplace closed 

[60ish degrees on Christmas Eve?!]

we had ourselves a Merry.