Christmas Day 2016

This year, because of the girl's growing families and their wanting to spend Christmas morning at their houses, we decided not to go to Mom and Dad's house until the 26th. They came to my house around 6 on Christmas Day.

Before they got here, we had our bedroom cinnamon rolls and opened presents.

Even Solomon got a present.

 For which, he gave his Dad some love

When the girls came rolling in we had a major feast. I cooked myself silly.
I love to fix desserts!

For the first time ever,  my good, fancy china that I had gotten for wedding gifts, had food on it! It's been moved many times, put on display, but never used. Until this year's Christmas dinner.

After dinner, I had "Mimi time" and we reenacted the Nativity Story with the little people play set.

 Then we had more presents.

and took a family picture. This is a treasure for me. It has been 3 years since I've had everyone together.

The next day we went to Tarboro for more food, presents and time spent with Mom and Dad.

That night, we played with our presents.

It was a fabulous Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2016

No Christmas Eve is complete without three things....

Church

Walking among the luminaries

and junk food pig out

and picking out undoubtedly involves burning eyes and noses from horseradish!

the Christmas story from the Bible and family presents.

It was a great evening!

If only we had been in Florida

As a gift for my work with swim team, I had been given a gift card to Outback Steakhouse. Daniel was home for Christmas and had agreed to watch the younger kids so John and I could go to dinner.

After dinner, John gave me my Christmas gift...

It was wonderful and I loved it, but the significance and the way he did it made it all the more special. You see he gave me my original ring, (which I had lost), while we were eating at a steak house in Florida before we went to the Gator Bowl, in December, 1982. I had ordered lobster, which I couldn't not eat afterward because I was so excited.

After a lobster dinner at Outback, John said, "Thirty four years ago, I sat across the table from you and asked you a question." Then he pulled out the gorgeous ring, got down on one knee  and said, "Well, babe, will you stay married to me?"

Enter the tears! That was the exact way he asked me to marry him all those years ago. It was so incredibly sweet! Of course I said, "Yes!" He said that he had learned one lesson resulting in one change...he waited until I had eaten the lobster!  Boy, oh boy! I love that guy!

Pre-Christmas 2016

This Christmas, we followed years past and got our Christmas tree from the only lot I know of with playground equipment. This is a highlight for the kids, they talk about it every year. This year Elijah asked could we go before dinner, so he wouldn't feel sick after the ride on the "spinning thingy".

We had some fun extras leading up to Christmas.

The Nutcracker Ballet

Babysitting Layne and Waverly and making cookies.

Layne was in the Christmas parade with her dance group.

 We had the honor of serving the folks at a local nursing home for a Christmas party. Complete with the kids singing carols.

We even snuck in a visit to Beth, Greg and Evie along with Nana and Grandaddy.

Whew! So much fun, so little time...