Christmas Day

Christmas Day was spent with Marty's family. We didn't have far to travel at all, as Marty's mom (Billie) and stepdad (Freddie) live just down the road from us. Marty's twin brother Mike and his family are spending a few days with Billie and Freddie during Christmas. Mike will have to go to Iraq soon and has taken the month of December off to spend with his family. We have had a wonderful couple of days with family! Be watching for more of what we've been up to!

Each Christmas Billie chooses one person to lavish with extra special gifts. She began doing this after her husband Bob passed away. I was the first lucky recipient of the extra Christmas gifts. This year Heather's name was drawn. The recipient receives many gag gifts in addition to one really awesome gift. Heather had to open many funny gifts before opening the gift she'd been waiting for! She received a note telling her to go order her class ring and Granny would pay for it. How awesome is that?! Before getting to that gift she opened funky toe socks (because doesn't every granny at some point buy the grandkids socks for Christmas??), candy in boxes made to look like video games (because video games are usually on her Christmas list), a teeny tiny stuffed monkey, etc. Each gift had Heather and everyone else laughing and laughing.










Ever since Heather was little bitty she's always stuck the bows from her gifts on her head. She still does!




Opening gifts:

Mike



Tony was very touched upon receiving some of his late grandfather's woodworking supplies.




Me






Freddie wanted to read my sticky notes from Billie. They said Chocolate: The Happy Food Group.






My sister in law Debbie





Heather with one of her gag gifts.





Marty



Freddie, Billie, Tony and Marty looking at some of my late father in law's woodworking projects.




Heather with Granny's bird "Bonnie." I think Heather is this bird's favorite human. I think her owner is actually her least favorite human. Sorry Billie!






After dinner the boys target practiced from the deck. Is this a redneck activity or what???
Mike




Tony




Billie challenged me to a game of Scrabble. I beat her twice then Mike joined us for the third game and I won again. Yay me! Billie and I usually run a very close race and go back and forth with wins and losses. This was my night!

Merry Christmas! (Christmas Morning)

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas day! We sure did!

Christmas morning found me to be the first one awake and waiting for Marty and Heather to get up so we could all open presents! Both were sure I'd be the last one up but Marty, who is usually up before the rest, was the last. It's funny how Christmas morning begins later and later as Heather gets older! I can remember well all the Christmas mornings lying in bed and hearing tiny feet hit the floor and run into the living room to see what Santa left...soon to be followed by squeals of deligt as she'd run to our room and show us her goodies. She doesn't wake us up anymore but she still gets up very early to see what Santa left and goes back to bed until the rest of us get up.



See, here's proof that I did finally get all the gifts wrapped and put under the tree!







We all take turns opening gifts and Heather usually opens the first wrapped gift every year.






Heather is loving having a job and her own money. I think she really enjoyed choosing Christmas gifts for family this year! I love the blouse she chose for me and the gift certificate for tanning as well! She was so excited to go with me to the motorcycle shop so she could get Marty stuff for the bike!






I was on the lookout for a nice leather jacket for Marty for going out or going to church. The one he wears riding just doesn't work well for anything else! I found the perfect one at the outlet mall and it's the softest leather I have ever felt. His Mom paid half so this gift is from both of us.










I think I can safely say from the look on Heather's face that she loves the "skinny jeans" I found for her! I love that she had this look on her face ALL day long and it was obvious to all she was in a great mood all day!








Unwrapping gifts:







Marty got gadgets for his computer! I got him a racing game, a wireless mouse, an mp3 player and a flash drive. Funny thing is, we all 3 got new flash drives from each other this year!






Apparently I got a little carried away with the tape....







It is so awesome to have a hubby so supportive of my hobby! I got a newer version of my camera....so Heather got my old one!

Candlelight Christmas

Yesterday was our church's annual Candlelight Christmas Service. This was the first year I've been able to attend one of these services. Last year we went to Missouri for Christmas so I missed it, and in the years prior to that, I was in the nursery during church services. I was excited about being able to see and hear this service firsthand. It was a beautiful service with the church auditorim lit mostly by candlelight.

At the beginning of the service as the pastor spoke of blessings of Christmas such as hope, peace, love, faithfulness, etc. As he mentioned each one, someone in the congregation lit a candle at the front of the room to represent each blessing of Christmas. Afterward, every person in the congregation formed a line to light their own candle from the large center candle up front and formed a large circle around the whole auditorium and sang "Silent Night" together. It really was a beautiuful service.

Because of the low light I had to keep the shutter of the camera open longer to capture any photos. In doing so, any movement at all caused bluriness so the photos of people aren't crisp at all...but I decided to post anyway so you could see for yourself the beauty of such a service. What a feeling to be able to worship together with my church family, especially at Christmas!

My friends Denise and Nancy playing the piano and keyboard during the service. What beautiful music!







I couldn't even get half the congregation in the photo.






Heather. I guess she just couldn't hear me saying "hold still and don't move a muscle for about 6 seconds...." lol







Our friends Larry, Pat, Lisa and Billy.








Denise at the piano.

I just love the Christmas tree in this room!







Merry Christmas!

Tour My Christmas Home

I've finally finished with the inside Christmas decorations. Marty is planning to put the lights up outside tomorrow. I didn't put out everything this year, but I did manage to put out most of it. I was tempted to only put up the trees, but decided the Nativities and Santas needed to be set up as well.

Hung on the front door is this wreath I made a few years ago. (There's a funny story of the day I made this wreath and each year I hang it I'm reminded of the attack of the bees attracted to the cinnamon scented pine cones I used. Now I only hang the wreath INSIDE, not outside)

In the living room you'll find many Christmas decorations, including this Nativity displayed on the entertainment center. I used to sell Home Interiors and purchased this set then.







A close up of my candles all decked out with poinsettias.








The lights of the Christmas tree in the living room.







At the end of the entertainment center I always perch this Santa on one of the candle holders and wrap both in more blush poinsettias.









This is an old window my grandpa gave me that I painted a snowman scene on, accompanied by our stockings (I still haven't located Marty's stocking so an extra was put in its place until I figure out where I put it!)








The dining room is where I put my red decorations, including most of my santas. I put another tree in here with all my apples and gingerbread man ornaments. My kitchen and dining room are decorated with apples and gingerbread men year round so there are always plenty of things to put on that tree! The giant santa was a gag gift from my mom a couple of years ago. He fits in quite nicely with all the other santas and red decorations!

The dining room table centerpiece.

Each year BooMama hosts a Christmas tour of homes so we can visit other bloggers' homes all over and see how we all decorate for Christmas and share Christmas traditions, etc. Click the logo below to check out other Christmas homes or to find out how to participate yourself.








Merry Christmas!!!!

Bracken Village Revisited

Last week my friend Nancy and I went to photograph the Christmas lights of Bracken Village. We decided to return for more photos last night, and this time Heather went with us. It was much warmer last night so I did not freeze! And, the gates didn't get closed on us so we did not have to hop any fences...I was so prepared to photograph that. Darn! It was a beautiful night and the light misty rains we've had off and on all week made for pretty reflections of the lights on the streets. The mist completely held off the whole time we were taking photos so we did not have to worry about our cameras getting wet. The 3 of us just wondered around the village taking photos of whatever struck our fancy. No adventures this time...unless you count the idiot who tried to run me off the road on the way........

By the end of the night all 3 of us had wet jeans from kneeling, or in Heather's case sitting, on the wet ground to get just the right shot!