Christmas Eve/Afternoon - Is there such a title? For the kids it is! They were looking so forwards to reading the Christmas Story, opening up their mysteries gifts, and then going down to my parents for the evening! We started with Ashlyn and she received puzzles and an animal puzzle that makes noises. Matthew got an iPod, shoes and sandals for Florida! Hadassah opened up her huge package and was thrilled to have a new zebra print chair! Then Mike brought in a white desk to go with it for her room. She was so delighted and it was even more fun knowing that we kept it all a secret and she was really surprised!
For the first time, the kids decided to stuff tiny stockings for each other. Nail polish and candy were found inside. I also stuffed bigger stockings for each of them and they got some gloves, gum and baby got a puppy toothbrush cover. :)
Loves lollipops!
Too tired to keep going!
We loaded up the van with more gifts and headed down to my parents at 5 PM. It couldn't have been more perfect. As we drove, there was the first fall of snow falling!!! White, beautiful flurries! We listened to one (and only one) favorite Christmas song while we drove. When we pulled into dads driveway, the kids were out of the van as soon as possible. Seriously, we like had to say, "Wait, till we are in park!"
Mom had the dinner table all spread out nice and in Christmas decor! The smell of oyster soup and steamed crab legs soon filled the kitchen air! We ate like kings and queens!
The night was fun and filled with games. (Just wish Tyler would have felt better. He was so sick and laying all night.) The kids stayed overnight while Mike and I and Ashlyn came home to let Ginger out and enjoy our own cozy beds!
Christmas morning came fast and after delivering some small gifts to our neighbors, we went back to dads for a big 10 AM breakfast! We sat and ate and I told Mike that my family beats any other families breakfast. The whole nine yards ... Eggs, French toast casserole, creamed beef, scrapple, mush, bacon, coffee cake, sweet rolls, toast, etc.!!! See ... told you the whole nine yards!
The rest of the day was spent opening gifts, eating snacks and ribs and more crab legs! Games: Panic, Rommey Oh, Haus, Acquire, Scum, etc.. So fun! But not for everyone ... Jody and Tyler were both down all day not feeling well!
Christmas at my parents ...
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"Second Christmas" came quick too! December 26 - we spent with Mike's family. I went out for a short, cold one mile run while my potatoes were cooking for mashed potatoes. We got to Dad Lapps in time for a delicious noon meal. Ham, mashed potatoes, pineapple filling, real gravy, peas and carrots, rolls with peanut butter spread, salad, ginger ale salad, etc.. So good!
The meal time was loud! We left the kids eat with their cousins, but Mike and I both agreed that the next time we will be sitting closer to them. The noise was too high and that makes for a hectic meal. Mom worked so hard to make everything look nice and taste wonderful and then we arrive and things go crazy! Oh, well. Love the kids!!!
Mom passed papers around for everyone to pick one out. We do this every year and I like it. It gets everyone involved with some kind of chore for clean up. Mike's paper said to entertain the kids in the rec room. I was to dry dishes. With every one's help, the clean up went only 1 hour (well, imagine if just mom and and the ladies did the clean up. That's all we would have gotten done! :) )
We gathered down stairs in a circle and sang carols. We didn't exchange gifts but in stead put funds together for a needy widow in our area. But, of course, Daudy Lapps had something for everyone! Hadassah got a new dress and art supplies! (Her and Jeff love to draw!) Matthew got a new pair of cowboy boots! Ashlyn got a new dress and a doll in a cradle with a blanket with her name embroidered on it! Too cute! She loves it! I got a huge outdoor solar lantern and money. Mike got $ too. Thanks so much mom and dad! Us adults did a 'now you have it now you don't' exchange. Never fails ... when you have seven siblings ... you have seven opinions on how to play the game. We did make it through and had some good laughs!
Settlers and Acquire filled most of the evening hours. The snack and desserts and another bowl of delicious oyster stew was so yummy! Holiday foods are rich and so good! Blessings!!!
Christmas at Dad Lapps ... Mom made snowmen out of rice krispies for all the kids! Mary Sue's peppermint crackers were good and looked so pretty in her jar!
Another entrance through our door at 11 PM. We were tired and ready for another night of rest!
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December 27 = Home! Cleaning day. Organizing day. Putting gifts in their new home day.
Mike woke up not feeling well. Flu. Hadassah also woke up with the same symptoms. They both were laid up all day. Jeffrey stayed overnight and I am sure he had the most boring day ever here today. (Sorry, buddy. Hadassah just wasn't up to par.) Matthew spent the night with Jeremy. We exchanged kids at 4. It was so sweet when I picked Matthew up. He had gotten to go to McDonald's and he saved his fries for Ashlyn. He knows how much she likes them!
The evening was spent doctoring up the sick here at home and playing uno attack and take one with Matthew!
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Today = Home!!! Again! Mike is still down with the flu. Hadassah is feeling a little better! Praise the Lord for that! I have the washer working overtime. The ornaments need to come off the tree and the tree taken out. It's drying up. :(
Enjoy the days at home with your kids. School will start again soon! "Take One" is something we played this morning and I know it will be a fun winter game for me and the kids!
Be blessed!
