Christmas Day and the Day After!

It's a tradition of mine that we leave the lights on all night Christmas Eve and I dearly love waking up on Christmas morning with all the decorations glowing!

Summer was still sleeping in the guest room and Louis Dean was still in bed as I tiptoed to the kitchen to turn on my coffee. I love having a little alone time on Christmas morning to sit and meditate, pray and just be quiet with my thoughts.

I put on another pan of those delicious cinnamon rolls and took them across the street to my neighbors.

This is Mocha and he loves me and I love him!!

The whole family walked back across the street to our house and I did a Christmas House tour for them.

The son stayed home with Mocha but as soon as the parents and sister returned, she said, "You have GOT to see this house!"

By this time I was working on Christmas Brunch for Ilene and Summer and us - so I invited her to show her brother around and she had her phone this time so she took some pictures!

We had the best time visiting with them and I now have my newest art student!

Melody has a new office and wants to paint a canvas for her wall.

I suggested she find three pictures and I would choose one of them and we will begin art class!

I'm so excited!

I made a Wisconsin cheese breakfast casserole, pepper poppers and raspberry kringle.

Louis Dean ate in his room while the rest of us went out to the den to eat and watch football!

Summer had a headache and stiff neck so I put a massage thing aound her neck and she started to feel better! This was a Christmas present from a previous year and still in use! Such a good gift that keeps on giving!

We watched football, took naps and rested all afternoon.

Ilene had another place to be later that afternoon so she left and by the time I woke up, Summer was already on her way back to Arkansas.

Time to get ready to go to the Bells for Christmas Dinner!

Look at this beautiful Christmas screen saver Amber had on their big TV!

This year was extra special as Mike's brother and sister in law were visiting along with their three children.

Once again, all the cousins were around the table.......

Kailey and Harper!

The food was delicious!

Six Bells and two Chapmans!

Everything was just beautiful!

We had two 'theaters' set up to watch Home Alone 2!

The adults were in the living room while the 'kids' were in the den!

It was such a lovely evening and we enjoyed every minute of being with everyone!

Louis Dean had a good time visiting and telling his stories to a new audience!

He's such a charmer!

I'm glad I can get home in the dark from Amber's house!

Louis Dean is wearing his new 'towel robe' he calls it - a gift from his oldest daughter, Annelll.

We sat up for awhile still basking in the glow of such a special family gathering.

Samantha was all cozy on the couch behind us.

The next morning we had this butter cake to go with our coffee.

It was part of a gift bag from Chris and Whitney and SO good!

This is a honeysuckle bush that is full of birds!

All the neighbors enjoy seeing them fly in and out.

They take turns sitting on the tippy top and singing!

Louis Dean filled the bird feeder so they won't be going hungry!

My pictures are a bit out of order ....

We had a quiet Boxing day with no boxing!

Just puttering around the house putting things to rights.

We even went to bed early! 

On Friday afternoon we took a bag of treats over to Lester - a dear neighbor of Ilene's - and visited with them for a few minutes.

Then we headed back to the Bells for another family outing - to an Allen All American Hockey game.

We rode with Mike and the girls with Amber and Trystan coming a bit later.

It was a lot of fun!!

Here's Amber!

What made this outing so very special?

Lynn and Jim had all three sons and their families TOGETHER!

16 Bells and 2 Chapmans!

Home again and right to bed!

Saturday morning we slept in and could hear the rain and thunder!

I had a cup of tea and watched for Mike and Harrison to drop by from a morning hosckey practice in North Richland Hills.

They were bring us the bakers rack they used when the kids were babies.

It held all the bottles and supplies for those around the clock feeding for four infants!

They did arrive and came in to visit for a few minutes - no just dropping it off and going on their way for them! We sat in the living room talking with my music cd playing and the house dar except for the Christmas tree. 

I'm going to tell you the extra special Christmas blessing of that morning.

Harrison had been telling us about school and remembering his elementary days - I love how all my grands are so comfortable socially. They can talk to anyone anywhere about nearly anything!

I saw him sitting there with a far away look in his eyes and asked,  "What are you thinking?"

He said,   "I just love being here and listening to y'all talk."

Be still, my heart!

The rain let up and Mike and Harrison loaded up the bakers rack and went on with their day.

We had already loaded the truck for our trip to the ranch and took off once the rain was gone.

The last time we were here in the country was October 7th!

Nearly 3 months ago!

Sunday Louis Dean singlehandedly hauled out the old fridge and decided to store it on the back side of the front room!

He never wants to throw anything away!

I watched Fellowship Church Live and then the movie...

Such a beautiful film and kept me entertained while I filled our medicine boxes for another month!

It's a beautiful thing to be back in the country!