Christmas Blessings!

Christmas time for our family came and went by way too fast!!!  We enjoyed all the gatherings and fun times ... especially the moments right here in our new home.

THE DIENNER GATHERING ...

A few weeks ago the Dienner family all met at Uncle Alvin's for lunch and afternoon/evening games.  We first went to church, ate lunch at home and then spent the rest of the afternoon with family.  It was great to see cousins and friends again that we don't see real often.  At 4 PM, Mike and I took the older kids and Dave & Suz and we went through our churches live nativity!  This is such a great presentation of the birth of Jesus.  Mike and Matthew were shepherds the night before and we wanted to walk through together so we went again.  We arrived early with having already a long waiting time.  The weather tempts were unusually high and so waiting outside for our tour to begin went well!  The guys even set up a quick game of Acquire and played till our time came to see the nativity walk through.  :)  We enjoyed both all the wonderful eats at Alvin's and the nativity!!!

Austin looked so cute in his Christmas shirts!!!

 Mommy D. ... I love her!

 

Playing Acquire in the parking lot before walking through the nativity.

 

 

THE LAPP FAMILY CHRISTMAS ...

 

We were really hoping to be out of the basement before Mike's family gathered for a Christmas dinner but no, we were still there.  Mom set up all the tables upstairs and it all worked out fine.  We missed Steve's not being there.  They are still in New Hampshire building greenhouses.  We were happy that Ervin's could be there because their little baby was born just a few days later.  :)  Welcome little Javon!!!

 



 Hunter was in the hospital for a few days from strep throat.  We were also glad they could all be with us at Dad's!!!  He was still not feeling the best but Ashlyn tried her best to get him to play toys with her. 

 Funny fellows ...

Time for presents ...

 Ashlyn was thrilled with her shopkins bus!!!

 Hadassah things for her room.

 Austin got a truck.

Matthew got a really cool chair that he put in his room.

 

Mom made a great lunch and the afternoon and evening was spent playing games and settlers.  :)  The kids played nice!  It was a late night before we got to bed.

 

THE RIEHL CHRISTMAS GATHERING ...

We moved on December 21 and my family had already made arrangements to go to the cabin for our Christmas gathering.  With just moving in, it took extra urging to pack up a few sets of clothing and leave so quickly.  I knew we would have a great time with family in the woods though!!!

 

Christmas morning we spent here at home with just our family and then we packed up the Yukon and headed for Clearfield County.  We arrived in time for supper and then spent the next few days at the cabin.  Everyone had a great time!!!

 

 

A new set of head phones was a gift for Matthew and a gift card & a blanket from Daudy's. 

 

 Austin got a new toy!!! 

 

 Ashlyn opened up a gift that she has played with so much already.  A doctor suit.

 

 Hadassah loved her jewelry organizer. 

 

 Dad got some new warmer clothing for hunting.  Mom got a door decor that she kept at the mountains. 

 

 Ashlyn got another doctor suit from mom and a learning center.

 

 Mom gave Dad a Bose for his Christmas.  :)

 

 The girls got new vests and gift cards.

 

My lovely husband enjoyed the time at the cabin.  Zoey got to be at the cabin too.

 

 Ginger went with us for the first time!!!  She did great!

Another toy for Austin.  He is going to love all these new sights and sounds. 

 

 He is so cute at 5 months old and we are loving his stage!

 

 Colson is right behind him with learning skills.  It is so much fun watching these two boys grow up!

 

 One of many food servings!!!  Mom went all out for our Christmas meal!  Crab legs and all!!!

 

 Dad has what he calls "a place for the bear".  Yes ... there are real live bear that come out and eat all the left overs and food garbage right here at this small deck.  It is very entertaining and dad loves to feed them.  All the bacon grease and scraps get put out for the bear.  We did not see any bear this time though.  There was a huge porcupine that enjoyed most of the bacon grease and trash!

 

 Addison is doing a good job at hobbling around on her candy cane cast.  She fell a few weeks ago and now has to have a cast a little while yet.  Such pretty girls!!!

 

We had a fun at the cabin!  We played so many games.  We never went to bed early.  :)  Thanks so much mom and dad for inviting the whole family up there and making it special. 

 

Not everyone has family to go home to.  Not near everyone in this world gets a gift at Christmas time.  We are extremely blessed to have family that loves us!!!

 

Thanks to our families for making this Christmas a wonderful memory!!!