Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely early Christmas with the kids.  Andrea and Scott arrived Friday evening with 6 of their 7 kids in two cars.  Michelle and her family made it down on Saturday.  Friday's weather was so bad we weren't sure if they would be able to make it.  Michelle was miserable the whole time...poor baby, she has an abscessed tooth, it was great of her to come all this way in spite of it.  Seth had a good time with his cousins and new cousins.

We had presents Sunday morning and Christmas dinner with turkey and ham and trimmings.  I made a huge pan of the best gravy I have ever made...woo hoo!  There was no lack of food during the weekend.  It rained much of the time so everyone was inside but our house contained everyone just fine.  The boys trounced around outside between storms once on Saturday but that was about it for outside activity.  Another 3.75 inches of rain...we are saturated and slopposis around here.

Yesterday morning everyone got their stuff together and then they all pulled out after breakfast around eleven.  Let the Cleaning commence!!!!!  Ian was the only one left for about an hour, then Larry took him over to Auburn to hook up with his other Grandparents who took him on with them to his Dad's place for Christmas and his break.

Connor, 3, Seth, 8 and Ian, 10

Loads of laundry, cleaning and stowing, but we were finished by about 3:30 except for some laundry folding.  We had a lovely repeat of Christmas dinner for dinner and then I had a combo dessert plate...YUMMY!  The sun came out and it warmed up a little yesterday so we were able to open up the house and let fresh air through.  We hardly ran the heater with all those bodies, but with all that breathing and cooking the windows were pretty damp with condensation so it was nice that we could get it dried out again before this next storm!

Larry and I thought we would be asleep in our bed before 8 last night, but we found a halfway entertaining sappy Christmas movie and ended up staying awake later then we thought.  This morning we opened our gifts to each other...which we loved, new camera bag and blown glass ball for me and a headlamp and gorilla light for Larry.  Then Larry and Gracie hit the trail before the rains and I worked on getting pictures organized and posted to Facebook.  They hadn't gotten in a hike since Larry's Aunt was here.  It started pouring again, but we are tucked in tight.  We may go see a movie this afternoon. (NAH, too nasty out there, decided to stay home)  I could have refined this more or added more details, but want to get it posted before I let too much time get by!  Hopefully you could understand what I did write...hahaha!

We have been blessed with a happy wonderful Christmas this year surrounded by our family and a great year...which we give thanks for every day.  I know many are struggling with pain and loss and for them I send hope and love.  Merry Christmas, with love and hugs! 

From Lori!!!  Jeni's ice cream from Ohio.  Arrived frozen solid, dry ice and next day air.

Destiny, Seth, Isiaih, Ian, Brandon, Chloe and Connor.  Nevaeh is the only one missing.

My combo dessert plate!  Cherry, apple, pumpkin pies and a side of rum cake!!!!

My cool new camera backpack bag and blown glass ball

Larry playing with his headlamp

Larry's Gorilla torch and headlamp.  The gorilla has magnets in the feet and bendable legs so can wrap around poles and hang onto steel, plus it is a really bright LED.  Both are LED's.