Christmas Moments......and the days after.....

Christmas Eve......Louis Dean and I were up early!

I'm a late sleeper normally except for Christmas and holidays.

We cooked and prepped and then got dressed and met up with family for a 3:00 candlelight service at Fellowship Church.

It was a beautiful service - especially when the only lights were candles glowing in the dark.

We all met back at the house after the service.

Pam, Reaoma's daughter, went to church with us and joined us for our Christmas Eve dinner.

 The most precious gift I received this Christmas was from Pam.....

this is Little Reaoma.

Reaoma was of Native American blood and documented that heritage with her handcrafted dolls.

She made one of her mother, her grandmother, her daughter and herself.

Pam gave me the Reaoma made of herself.....complete with adoption papers and everything.

I admit that I teared up a bit.

All my children and grandchildren were here Christmas Eve except for Summer and Rayne.

They were celebrating in Puerto Rico and we were happy for them even though we missed them!

Jesse and his family arrived......

My grandson, Levi! 

He is the cutest guy and has so much personality!

Faith and her brand new Christmas puppy named Max.

Ambe and Mike were here with the kids......

Aren't the girls precious??

Leigh Ann, Jesse's wife and my beautiful daughter in law.

Logan was in love with that little Max!!

Amber is a beauty!

We all visited and snacked on appetizers and enjoyed being together.

For the dinner meal, I had made a big beef stew along with salads and rolls.

Since the oldest grands are 16, 14, and 12......I put them at the adult table in the dining room with their parents and aunt and uncles.

The young ones sat at the corners of the table......

and Granddad and I ate with the quads at the table in the den.

The happiest moments of this Christmas season was listening to my children and grandchildren laugh and talk around the table. I wouldn't trade that sound for anything.

I was enjoying listening in and then laughed when I realized what they were talking about but it was all good!

While the adults were filling their plates.....

the kids and I went for a walk around the block.

Playing in crisp brown leaves in December is a Texas 'thang!'

It was a pleasant evening and no jackets required.

We walked over to a favorite neighbor's house to wish her a Merry Christmas.

Tamara's husband is away with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I need to write down what he does but I know he's very important.

As she opened the door. the kids starting singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas!'

They sure had fun surprising her!

The stew was delicious!

I used a new recipe and it was a real hit.

The gifts were all in place and ready to open but we had a big job to do first.

Roll sugarplums!

Each grand rolled their own and took them home with them.

Except for Sam. He forgot to take his and they were scarfed up!

Louis Dean sat in the den and smiled a lot!

He may have had visions of sugarplums in his head!

Finally! It was time to open the gifts!

My handsome son, Benjamin! 

Child of my old age.

He is just 30 years old.

My handsome oldest son, Jesse!

He's 52.....

Son of my youth.

Leigh Ann loved the bracelet Amber made for her and I love the way Levi is looking at his mother!

Amber and her dad!

She knew he would love that warm green jacket!

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve.

Smiles, laughter, conversation.

Food, gifts, a new puppy and so much love.

I am a very blessed woman.

The time went by way too fast!

Jesse and his family were the first to leave.

Saying Goodbye!!!

And Goodbye AGAIN!!!

After everyone was gone, Louis Dean and I took a glass of wine to the gazebo.

He wore his new jacket to ward off the chill......

and he brought the gifts that we had wrapped for each other.

He was pretty happy with the one I gave him!

It was a custom Dodge Ram leather steering wheel cover.

What did he give me?

My favorite perfumes!

I set the alarm for 7:30 Christmas morning - but I woke up at 7:23 and preheated the oven, turned on the coffee and popped the breakfast casserole in to bake.

The Christmas Gathering started at 10:00 and we were only 12 minutes late!

My beautiful sister, Nita!

She makes hostessing our family look easy.....

but she has a secret weapon.....Mike!

It's always a treat to be in their home.

Mike collects vintage toys and so much more.....

Daughter Leah and her Mama!

Doesn't Deanie look great?

She's a December Baby born on the 21st.

I give her a candle for her birthdays....and it's always a gray one. 

She seems to like the way they smell.

One year it was called Warm Sweater. I forgot the name of this one but it's a Yankee candle so I know it smells wonderful!

Nita and Mike set up the best beverage stations!

We all bring something for the brunch and then Nita and Mike provide a ton of food!

I think she cooked 12 pounds of bacon! Plus sausage gravy, biscuits and scrambled eggs.

Then she had a mound of fresh berries plus the fixings for mimosas!

Michele brought sausage balls and Trish fixed breakfast pizzas and angel graham bars.

Joni brought her mother's fudge and Louis Dean baked his cinnamon rolls.

There was a lot of food! So much so that we all took some home with us and Louis Dean and I have had the best breakfasts ever since. We will polish the rest of it off in the morning.

Glad none of that delicious food went to waste!

From the Fort Worth Family to YOU!

Louis Dean, Nita, Mike, Bernie, Andie, Trish, Charlie, Leah, Deanie, Patrick, Joni, Michele, Lonnie and Larry!

Same thing here except I took Mike's place!

We wish you a merry Christmas!

We have such a good time on Christmas morning all being together.

We missed a few this year.

Our favorite cousin, Gay, was sick and couldn't come.

She is such a fun gal and we were so sorry she couldn't make it.

Bernie and Joni!

We claim them as Family!

Joni and Nita were sister in laws. 

Not really - more like sisters in love because love is stronger than laws!

Lonnie still calls Michele his lovely bride - and she is!

Leah and Patrick.....

and here is Andie!!!

Adorable as always!

Okay!

Visiting and feasting is done and now it's time to do the Chinese Christmas Tree.

Deanie had #1 so she opened more than one gift since the first one she opened - a set of luxurious grey towels - was stolen right off!

It's a strategic game if you are a couple and bring two gifts.

Every gift can be stolen and the third person to get it is the last.

It's frozen then and off limits.

Michele opened the Santa painting first.

But she didn't get to keep it long.

Bernie stole it next.....and he thought he did good and that would be it.

But then his wife stole it from HIM!!!

Silly man! 

Now that Joni stole it and was the third person - it was hers for keeps!!

She was a happy lady and I was happy for her.

Leah got to keep the copper cookware, some lucky people got some lottery tickets and Bernie got the pretty towels. I got the Pioneer Woman tea towels and silverware. Everyone went home happy!

Nita did give Joni a word to the wise. While happy that she won the 2018 Santa, she did say that normally the game is a bit more aggressive.....

and just so you know - Nit ahas more of the Santa paintings than anyone else except ME!!

I painted a couple of them special for her birthday.

I was proud of this year's Santa.

Good job, Joni!!

We went to the nursing home after we left Nita's.

Lillian and Roberta were not supposed to be there - but they were.

Lillian was sick and Roberta was really tired. I dropped goodies off and went in to check on Mother.

She was asleep and you know what? I did not disturb her. I left her gifts of clothing on her dresser and spoke to the aid to let her know.

 Since we would be back on Friday, we visited a few minutes and went on home to rest up a bit before we had our last celebration over in Dallas at Amber and Mike's house. We arrived just as they were making their plates - perfect timing!

Ham, mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, all so good!

We brought Louis Dean's dinner rolls and my fruit salad plus a platter of desserts and a pumpkin pie.

Once again, we shared good food and good conversation.

The gifts had all been given with the exception of Uncle Ben's.

He was quite the celebrity that night!

The girls received the coolest mermaid tail snuggle blankets!

He hit the ball out of the park on those!

Plus he gave Harrison the coolest Discovery Books - and you know how much Harrison loves good books!

We came home tired after all the festivities and celebrations but with the lightest and happiest of hearts. We put our pajamas on, poured us each a glass of wine and flipped on the little fireplace heater in the gazebo. We settled down with our feet propped up and basked in the after glow of a lovely Christmas. Then we went to bed and slept long and sound!

Louis Dea brought me coffee in bed and I lingered long....

It was after noon when I left the bedroom and at 2:00 I was dressed and out the door to hit up the after Christmas sales.

It was a wild windy stormy day in the DFW area and that called for a Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino!

My first stop was Hobby Lobby where I got some super cute things for our place at the ranch.

I keep a tree up year round there and found the best decorations that will be perfect for the country!

Home Depot followed by Dollar General. Then I dropped by Quadville for a spur of the moment visit. Amber was out on errands and Kailey met me at the door asjing, "What are you doing here?"

We ended up doing play dough that their Grandmommy had given them and eating the Texas Trash that Mark (Mike's brother) had forgot and left there. Just so you know - you leave it - you lose it!

The storms had been building and I braved one last storm - Walmart.

My trunk was filled and so was the back seat and the passenger seat.

Time to go home!

By now the storm was really raging! I was dripping wet and my shoes were soaked.

I drove like a little old lady all the way home.

At times the rain was so heavy I could barely see.

Three times I hydro planed but I stayed calm.

Praise God and thank you, Summer, for those night driving glasses. 

They made all the difference.

Louis Dean was waiting for me when I got home.

He was standing in the doorway looking out. That made my heart squeeze.

I left everything in the car and ran inside.

It was so good to be home!

We hugged each other and then I went in, took a hot shower and put on a warm gown.

Today I unloaded the car and packed it all in my Light Closet.

I use white lights all year round and I have more than enough for 2019.

This spring we plan to take all the debris down from the front porch, paint it and put up a unique set of box springs - primed and painted - up against the ceiling of the porch. I want to string up fresh new lights on it and I have a few other ideas to go along with this.

I have rediscovered two Christmas cookbooks this year and I intend to continue to use them for the next few months. I made these muffins earlier this month and made them again today.

Tomorrow we will take a whole bag full of treats to the nursing home when I visit Mother and the other residents. There's an older gentleman across the hall from Mother whom we are becoming very fond of.  He longs for a vanilla cake with plum jelly - a memory of one he remembers from his younger days. I am going to try to make one for him this year but tomorrow I'm bringing him a plate of butter pecan pound cake with brown sugar frosting and a big mug of ice cold milk. 

I poured it up tonight and put it in the freezer.

Now I must close and go out to the kitchen and set it in the fridge.

I want it to be 'icy cold' as he requested. Hopefully it won't still be frozen!

I don't think that we can duplicate things we love from our memories.

It never quite measures up.

But wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do it?

Just once and just for this special gentleman.

I have to try.....