Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with a healthy supply of cinnamon rolls...
After eating, the guys had so much energy from all that sugar that they got to work outside. It helped that it was maybe THE one day without rain...

Some of our ladies were a bit concerned...watching out the window, praying he wouldn't get hurt...
Joshua wasn't worried, but he's not who they were watching...
Donnie! There he is, up in the tree...In this photo, you see the ladder...
but now you see, the ladder is gone. I have no idea why the ladder was taken away...
He was straddling a branch, and using a saw at the same time to cut off limbs...

I was thankful when he came down!
In the meantime, Thalia put Benjamin to sleep....
Her cousin, Peter, gave her a big hug and told her how proud he was of her....
Becky and GRITS were hanging out around the food bar...checking email...and just visiting...
Another shot of Aunt Becky and GRITS...
As we were waiting for our Christmas dinner to cook, some got a game going...
Some didn't want to play games, but just hang out in the living room...

With 19 people, you had a choice about what you wanted to do...
Thalia was happy to do anything...
She hung out with Sami for a little while...
Emerson decided he wanted to go for a walk...
He put on his Daddy's shoes...
and tried to open the front door...
He looked to his Mimi for help...
but all he got was a photo or two!
Benjamin came in carrying his potty chair.

"Poopie," he said.
"Benjamin, do you have to go poopie?"
"NO," was his answer!
He put the potty chair away and just looked out the window at the Christmas lights...
He made his way into the kitchen. He and Emerson LOVE the magnets...I eventually removed all the photos being held on by magnets because they kept ending up on the floor...

Finally, it was time for our Christmas Eve dinner...we had two tables set up and put the food on the bar...
The feasting began...ham, turkey and dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, layered jello fruit salad, cranberry sauce, hot rolls, mixed fruit, corn casserole....it was tasty!
GRITS was happy...

Gabe was waiting for the line to get down before he got up to fill his plate...
Joshua wasted no time...
Lindsey was telling her Uncle John her favorites...
It was so special to have everyone here...


Cranberry sauce....made with cranberries, apple, brown sugar, ginger, white grape juice, cinnamon...Yum!Last but not least, dark chocolate pie! I think I made 5 of them during the week everyone was here.

Christmas Eve dinner...it was a great time having our family together for dinner!