Christmas memories

Christmas isn't just one day in this family. There are many events that lead up to the celebration of Christ's birth.
The fun started at least a week prior to that.
The girls had their first ballet performance/Christmas party. Right afterward, we sent them off with their Uncle D and Aunt L and G and I took off. We ran away. We fled the city to my old hometown. What a lovely time we had ... alone! We slept in, we ate a leisurely breakfast, we shopped away for gifts. we had more luck on the kids' gifts at Target than we did at the mall. Although Class E Professor store had some awesome finds!
After a terrific dinner at my high school friends' parents' home, the next day we had to head back home.
But first a quick stop at a local iconic landmark, the big Black Bird.

While we were away, the aunt and uncle were spoiling the kids rotten. Plenty of movies and late nights and goodies. They decorated little house made with graham crackers and their choice of candies.
And then Christmas Eve candlelight service came .. for some reason the kids could not understand why we were going to church at night. We had our traditional chili and rice dinner that evening before we opened a gift. The next day, Christmas Day!, they even let us sleep in a little. We had a leisurely morning of breakfast and gifts and then off we went. We drove out to the home G grew up in, where his mom and her husband live (for those who don't know, G's dad died 7 years ago and she has since remarried). What a lovely feast. I must have had 3 helpings of sweet potatoes. I love to blame it all on the baby! Ham, potatoes, salad, rolls, veggies ... oh and then dessert! ugh, I ate plenty of all of that!




Presents were presented and opened and appreciated. Laughter and games and conversation were shared. We all had a wonderful time. And then it was time to come home. A very lovely Christmas season .. nearly done, but not quite. Once the New Year is celebrated, then the season turns ... to clean up!