Sunday December 28, 2008

 

 

Another Christmas Celebration!

 

This time it was our own family – local children, grandchildren, and a few friends.

 

 

But first, I must show you two photos of our pretty, foggy morning.  The farm buildings are where we were last night to celebrate my family’s Christmas.  The house is to the left of the silos.

 

 

There were wisps of fog everywhere, creating a springlike scene.

 

 

My lunch buffet

 

 

We were pleased to have our niece Juanita (second from right) join us for lunch.  She is the one who had car problems on the way from Michigan to Pennsylvania the other night.  She brought Cerwin’s mother today, so we invited her to stay.

 

 

What do you think Roy, Gloria, and Diane are reading?

 

 

Juanita, Chris, and Jeff are looking at something as well.

 

 

What could be capturing everyone’s attention?

 

 

It was this puzzle which Jere and Kristen brought.  If you want to try to look for the numbers, I’ll give you one hint.  Can you see the “number two” in the forehead and nose of “H” (bottom center)?  See if you can find any others. 

 

 

Then Kristen read from a cookbook given to her by their kindergarten student, Ian.

 

 

Notice Kristen standing (left) and reading a few recipes from the cookbook.

 

 

Don’t miss the PS.

 

 

 I love Ian’s recipe for making hot dogs.  I wonder what would happen if you microwaved a hot dog for thirty minutes!

 

 

Then it was time to open gifts.  First was the grandchildren’s gift exchange.  Apparently Diana had Jesse’s name.

 

 

Jared, Diana, and Jesse.  Jesse wanted to help open everyone’s gift.

 

 

 

 

Ian

 

 

Gloria and Jesse

 

 

Jesse and Gloria

 

 

Zachary and Jesse

 

 

David

 

 

Jana

 

 

Diana and Josh.  When she was finished opening the package, I missed the cutest photo op when she reached over and gave Josh a shoulder hug for the gift.

 

 

Jenna

 

 

Josh

 

 

Abigail

I’m not sure how or why I missed getting photos of Nathan and Jordan opening their gifts.

 

 

Then we gave our gifts to the children and grandchildren.   We give them money – along with a small token gift. 

 

 

Then Cerwin and I received gifts.

 

 

Cerwin received a gift card from Cabela’s in this neat box.

I received a variety of flash deflectors for my camera.  I am going to really like them, because they can be stored flat, yet do a good job of deflecting the flash in the direction I wish.

 

 

Mary Jane (Jeff and Chris’ adopted mother), Cerwin’s mother, and my stepmother. 

 

 

While some were watching a football game, a few of us played a card game called Golf.

 

 

 This is a favorite of our mothers, and we continued playing after the others went home.

 

  

 Would you believe that we have one more Christmas dinner. 

That will be in Maine, when we go there next weekend to celebrate Christmas with our daughter Diane and her family.

 

Postscript:

  

 The three guys in the background of Jenna’s gift photo (Nathan, Jordan, and Josh), decided to use one of their “days” and stay overnight.  It is so much fun that they like to hang out together.  I think they wanted to play GameCube or Xbox, eat, play computer games, eat, watch a game, eat, and watch a movie. 

While Cerwin and I relaxed and watched a “Herbie” movie, we could hear them laughing (very loudly) and checked to see what was going on in the next room.  They were watching some funny movie.  Their laughter was a beautiful sound.