Happy New Year, Too!

A compassionate open home is part of Christian responsibility, and should be practiced up to the level of capacity.

~ Francis A. Schaeffer

This quote really doesn't apply here because I love my family and I was thrilled to have them all in my home on Christmas Day. The wee haven may have been bulging at the seams, but it was all good and I enjoyed myself tremendously. This post is mostly for documenting purposes so don't feel that you have to read when you have better things to do.

🌲🌲🌲

 Michelle(daughter-in-law)~Jake(grandson)~Kirsten(niece)~Steve(brother-in-law)

Sam(grandson)~Adam(son)~Michelle

Sam

Jake

The bubble over my niece Kea's head says You're going to jump, aren't you?

Gearing up

Phew! Thought better of it..

What is it?
Joel (Little E's dad), Little E, Kim (Little E's grandmother), Jake

What is it?!

Oh! A blue dinosaur. (The best photo and I blew it. Oh well, Little E was very pleased with his new friend.)

Of all the people here, I didn't get my daughter Laurel's picture. She arrived the day before Christmas to help me clean and set up for Christmas Day. 

Yes, I am sending a secret message. ☺

She took me for my treatment on Friday last.

Laurel studies the menu at 99

She hung with me all afternoon when I'm sure that she had better things to do. It's nice to have company for that process. Before you ask, I am doing well, my doctor is pleased, and I feel pretty good most of the time. Oh, and my hair is growing back. Yay!

Many blessings to you and yours in 2020!

Christmas 2016

Okay, let me share my Christmas with the family at the wee haven here. It was a cold, overcast day. We had a lovely afternoon eating, opening gifts, sledding, playing games, eating ... There was way too much eating going on.  
I have picture stories.

Somehow Jakob was talked into being the Christmas elf again passing out all the gifts. He did an exceptional job! Sometimes he got the "moms" confused, but that was easily sorted.

Here's our resigned family member Sam who had faced disappointment a number of times already that day. It seemed that no one appreciated the fact that his iPod was on its last legs and that he is very attached to said device and that he would miss it terribly.

Suddenly, things were looking up...

What joy in the camp...loved my daughter-in-law's expression, too. Only wish that I had also been able to turn the camera on my daughter who was a generous auntie giving Sam his second iPod. She had given him the first some years ago when he broke his leg that awful year. She had made sure that Jakob had one as well then. You can see that Jakob is just catching on that he has a new one, too.

*~Auntie Laurel and Sam relaxing~*

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly.

~Andy Rooney

It looks skimpy, but there was a lot more on the buffet behind the sofa, which reminds me not to do that again. The snapping of the crockpot just behind those seated at the sofa was unnerving for them. 😏

Another thing to learn...just because I like a thing...the punch...olives...spiral ham...does not mean that everyone anyone else does. I can let a few of these things go another year. It sure was pretty, though. Thank you, Cheryl.

~home from the hill video~

Almost forgot to show the sledding. The Christmas gloves came in handy when the first pair got wet. The red flannel plaid jammies came in handy when the boys came in wet and cold from the luge. Some grandmothers are notorious for gifting red flannel plaid pajamas. 

Jakob and I have a sleepover date in January. I mentioned that Jake could sleep in my bed and I'd sleep on the sofa. He corrected me saying, "Ahhh, Nonni, I know that you sleep there, but it'll always be John's bed to me." Sweetness. God is good all the time.

Doubtful that I'll be back before the New Year so will wish you all a wonderful 2017 and say thank you for all your wonderful visits and comments in 2016.