Celebrating Christmas Eve with Family

Here are photos of family taken as they were getting ready to leave at the end of our time together on Christmas Eve.

Koryn and Kyle with Dash

Megan with Penny, James, and Sadie (Trevor was on call at the hospital and couldn't come.)

Tyler and Haley with Wesley

Judd and Amy with Nate, Claire, and Dean

Derek and Sarah with Paul, Max, Grant, and Anna

Ryan and Tani

Kortney and Brady with Amelia and Hadley

Doug and Shannon with Mason, Brynlee, Corban, and Isaac

Cousins:  Maggie, Marisa, Maren, and Seth 

Eden and Maren

Marla and Curtis

Taylor and Maggie

Brent, Tauna, and Seth 

Elise and Carson 

(They left before I got a photo taken of them on Christmas Eve, so I appreciate this photo taken the next day at Ryan and Tani's.)

Christmas morning at Todd and Beth's with their family.

Globe for Sam and a lighted Gingerbread House decoration for me from Scott & Kristine (who were in Tucson for Christmas).  We also got other nice gifts from family and neighborhood gifts.  We feel blessed!

Scott, Kristine, Jenna and Josh in Tucson.

Josh and Jenna with their wonderful announcement!

And by the way, Sam took this photo of my arm I hurt when I fell down the stairs yesterday.  Fortunately, it isn't broken - just my pride was hurt.  (December 26)

 * * * * * * * *

Here is a photo taken the that evening before going to bed.  The bruising and swelling spread down the arm from the elbow to the hand. 

December 26

(Didn't take a photo on December 27th, but the bruising was now on the palm to the thumb.)

Merry Christmas 2024!

We love the Christmas season celebrating the birth and life of the Savior. We appreciate the visits from family and friends and getting letters and cards delivered in our mailbox. The thoughtful gifts will continue to be remembered and appreciated. We feel very blessed!

How lucky are we to have the real Santa come to our home!

I have always loved celebrating Christmas - the reason for the season as well as the traditions we have enjoyed as a family. It was wonderful on Christmas Eve to have our house full of loved ones to particiapte in the traditional family Nativity, to enjoy the turkey and ham dinner, and to welcome Santa into our home with a special message and gift for each child willing to sit on Santa's knee.

Nativity Pageant

The children go with a couple of moms to the storage room downstairs where they can choose what they will wear for the Nativity Pageant from the things that are laid out on the pingpong table and the other game table. We have saved in various sizes through the years bathrobes, graduation gowns, white dresses for angels, a blue dress for Mary, a Baby Jesus doll, wooly sheep mats, gifts for the Wise Men, turbans, and more. 

Mary (Hadley) and Joseph (Dash)

The special Christmas story was read from the Bible (Luke 2:1-20) as the shepherds and then the angels entered the room to join Mary and Joseph.

As the verses were read from Matthew 2:1-2, the Wise Men entered with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

Joshua entered to light the birthday cake for Baby Jesus before they sang "Happy Birthday" to Baby Jesus; followed by "Silent Night."

Our Christmas celebrations have featured the reenactment of the Nativity from the scriptures since our children were little and is now being continued with our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Narrator (Ethen), Shepherds (Rebecca and Isaac) with sheep (Corban and Paul), Angels (Haruwa from Japan who is Mari's daughter - and Haruwa's friend - and Anna), Wise Men (Mason, Max, and Grant), Christmas Elf (Wesley held by Anna), and a little cute shepherd held by Ryan (Amelia)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

After the Nativity Pageant, it was time to get the food ready to serve for a traditional Christmas Eve meal with places for eating at the dining room table, kitchen countertop, and three tables set up downstairs.

Delicious food was brought by each family to go with the ham and turkey ready to come out of the oven and three kinds of beverages.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Here comes Santa!

Maggie was Santa's helper and pulled the gifts out of his bag.

He always has a nice message to share before the children come up to sit on Santa's knee when their gift is pulled out of Santa's bag.

Claire's gift was the first to come out of Santa's bag.

Dash

Brynlee

Grant

Penny

Dean

Hadley

Isaac

Max

Rebecca

Haruwa's friend

Wesley

Corban

Sadie

Nate

Amelia

Maggie, Kortney, Amelia, and Santa

Paul

Haruwa

Anna

James

Mason

Mason, Brynlee, Rebewcca, Corban, Cortney, Amelia, Ryan, Dash, Anna, Max, Santa, Grant, Penny, Dean, Sadie, Paul, Haruwa holding Wesley, James, Nate, Haruwa's friend, Claire, and Isaac

Opening the gifts from Santa

We opened the gift from our children, which will be enjoyed at our family reunions playing "9 square."

Next blog entry: family photos taken Christmas Eve.