Christmas 2017

Christmas Eve we were able have all of our family together except for Skyleer and Alyssia.  The full time missionaries also joined us for dinner.

We had a wonderful meal of Chicken and Dumplings, tamales, (our traditional Christmas Eve foods) as well as taquitos, bean dip, pico de gallo, guacamole,  and a relish tray.  (We had to get something healthy in there:)

Instead of eating in the dining room as we always do, I set up two extra tables just off our kitchen table.  With the missionaries and the little kids it would have been a little tight fitting everyone in the dining room.  I set the tables with my Christmas dishes and it looks really nice!

The missionaries gave us a nice Christmas message about being "letting our light so shine" before leaving for their next appointment. 

After cleaning up dinner we gathered around the piano to sing Christmas hymns. (at my request:)  Singing around the piano is one of my favorite things to do and we do not do it nearly enough as far as I'm concerned:)  

Then with the help of the mothers we dressed the little children up in their Nativity costumes.  While Brach read Luke 2 the children were able to play their parts.  It actually went better than expected.  My expectations were not very high with our littles all being very little!  Haivyn had taken off her costume at least three times before we even began.  Just after getting a picture Henry took his off because he was hot.  And it went from there!  But, we got through it all without anyone getting hurt so in my mind that is a success!!

Henry was a shepherd, Scout was an angel, Rafe was Joseph,  Haivyn was Mary.....and little Merik was baby Jesus.  Charlie was not given a costume but he was just as cute as all the others!!!

After the Nativity reading we gathered two boxes of food to drop off to a couple of neighbors.  Rick and I stayed home with a couple of the children while two vehicles left to deliver the food.  We used to all go in one vehicle and the boys had a fun time ringing the doorbell and running.  Now our family has grown so much that we can't do it in one vehicle anymore.  I'm glad this tradition is still in force even though we've had to change it up a bit.  

While the kids were delivering food,  Rick and I tried to organize the presents from under the tree.  I had to find all of the christmas jammies.  That proved a little harder than I thought but we finally got it all figured out.  

Group pictures by the tree.......

After pictures the children all opened their gifts from grandma and grandpa.  The kids were so excited!  What a fun and crazy time!

I was hoping to be able to end our party early so that our children could get home early to prepare their own Christmas.  They didn't get left until 11:00!!  They all had long nights!!!!

The next morning we woke up after eight!  So nice to sleep in on Christmas morning!  

Rick, Gary and I gathered around the Christmas tree and took turns opening our gifts.  It was really nice.  One of the special gifts that Rick made for me was a binder filled with Christmas messages and testimonies of some of our friends in Mbale.  It was very special to me!

After opening presents we had a BIG breakfast.  Skylar and Sarah and the boys plus John and Kaitlyn and their kids came to eat with us.  I had made the Pioneer Woman's baked french toast and WOW!  it was good!  We also had ham, sausage, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and fruit.  I love a nice big breakfast!

After breakfast we got to visit all of the kids at their own homes (well, S&S are just downstairs but it's their home for now:) and our grandkids got to show us what Santa had brought them! 

It was a very laid back day after that.  Just what was needed after a busy week of tending kids and preparing for Christmas Day.

It was a Very Merry Christmas!!!!!!