Christmas Eve Family Gathering

This Christmas is the first in a long time where we have actually had snow on the ground and more predicted during the holidays.  I was grateful that we didn't get any snow on Christmas Eve until early Christmas morning.  With all the children coming over for dinner and the Christmas Eve festivities, it is always a worry if they are traveling in on snowy roads.

We planned on dinner at 4:00.  Neal and I set up all the tables that morning.  I spent the rest of the morning getting all the side dishes prepared and ready to be put in the oven and on the stove at just the right time to have everything ready to go on the tables at 4:00.  This year we had a rib roast and ham along with funeral potatoes, fruit and veggies.  Maren brought a delicious fruit salad that complimented the dinner perfectly.

Just a little before 4:00 I got a call from Mindy telling me that Jeff had a swollen cheek and the inside of his mouth was sore and swollen so she was sending the kids over and she was taken Jeff to Insta Care.  I was sorry to hear that.  Everyone arrived on time and we were able to have prayer and all be sitting down at the table by a little after 4:00.  We all had a wonderful time eating and visiting with each other.  Lynda Ann and Lyndsy helped clear the tables, get the first load of dishes in the dish washer and prepare for the next activity of the real reason why we were all there together.

Neal quoted, from memory, the scriptures in Luke of Christ's birth and we sang Silent Night.  Maren played the top hand and Neal the bottom hand on the piano.  They did pretty good.  We had hoped that Jeff and Mindy would be able to come but Jeff called and said they had been released but were going home.  Jeff had an infection of some kind and was given antibiotics and pain pills and sent home.  So we proceeded to hand out the presents and open them.  Neal and I were, as usual, spoiled by the kids.  I didn't take a picture of all the presents but had to take a picture of the quilt that Annie made for Neal and I.  It was a very teary moment for me knowing the hours and hours that she must have spent on putting this quilt together.  It is huge and if you read the words, it pretty much tells our life!  What an incredible gift!  Thank you Annie for the hours and hours of love that went into putting this gift together.  It shall be treasured always!!

 The next pictures are just random pictures of the family.

 The boys were all given legos and immediately went over to the table to put them together.  Fun that they are all about the same age and have close to the same interests.

All together I think it was a wonderful evening spent with the family.  Usually everyone stays and plays games but Christmas Eve adds another dimension to the activities knowing that Santa is getting ready to make and appearance and children need to be in bed for that coming event.  I would have to say that the day was perfect in every way except for missing Jeff and Mindy.  We were very sorry that they couldn't be with us, but very happy that Maddie, Ryan and Grayson came over to be apart of the festivities.