OUR SURPRISE CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!
"It's an Uncle Hans!!!" After much cajoling and persuading, Uncle Hans, "The Father's" Brother arrived just in time for Christmas. He will be staying with us foR a few months. We have so loved having Uncle Hans here! We could not have asked for a better present!
SissiesDECORATING CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Artists at work
Captain "Lackbeard" ; Robin (hoodwinked into being a Christmas cookie); and well... we're a Christian family so we don't acknowledge this last guy. We only know he is vaguely associated with a Saint popularized during theVictorian era. We cannot imagine why someone felt the urge to decorate this unfortunate cookie man in such ridiculous garb...... THE SENDING OF THE FAMILY NEWSLETTER!
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS...
The kids (here with 8 year old cousin Margaret Anne) loaded up in the back of the pick-up with hot chocolate and homeade cookies to look at lights. Can you tell they had fun? Oh! BTW - yes, it WAS cold!!!
The kids (here with 8 year old cousin Margaret Anne) loaded up in the back of the pick-up with hot chocolate and homeade cookies to look at lights. Can you tell they had fun? Oh! BTW - yes, it WAS cold!!!
We got a kick out of this one"A PEANUT BUTTER CHRISTMAS"
The younger cousins did a play this year.
"We can be happy even though somebody stole our presents and we're stuck in a motel room in a blizzard..." (I am making this up, but you get the idea of the plot, right?)
"It was the best Christmas EVER! And we even found a gift...a 5 POUND JAR OF PEANUT BUTTER!!!" ( jolly laugh all 'round) ... It was very cute.
AT OUR HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS EVE...
The nutcracker saga continues
Sarah made matching dresses for her little sisters
Markie bought this with her own money...awww....
Yep... He likes it!
Markie and Rosie quoted Luke 2CHRISTMAS DAY AT GRANDMAMA and GRANDADDY's
Fresh picked citrus is always part of a Florida Christmas
Aunt Molly REALLY enjoyed giving Grandmama her OWN tool set - to bang a nail in here and there..."Hands off, guys!"
Little Samuel and Me
Did somebody say shoehorn?
Oh! Aunt Katie IS a kindred spirit, isn't she, Grace? "The History of England" ... ah, yes, the perfect gift for Grace. Combine that with Uncle Hans' gift of a 3 hour browse and purchase in an old bookstore, and Grace is in literary heaven.
Rosie had Rachel's name and was so excited when she found this sweet little tea cup at a ... (yes, folks, we DO frequent them) ... garage sale!
Sweet cousin Callie had Kitty's name. She made her this wonderful John Deere apron! Kitty was so thrilled!
More Hope Chest material. These aren't just any goblets, these are Royal Doultan goblets! (from which only non alcoholic drinks will be served of course!)
Pete had Matt's name. A Bolo tie always fits the bill!
Linens for future homemakers
The evening project - getting these hooked up. I can't believe how much time guys can spend on things like this!
Here they go! Of course the parents immediately suggest a science project!
Princess Rose has overcome her "UncleRobertphobia"
Pete sure likes THIS shirt!
More Hope Chest material 
Rosie in the "Christmas Chair", the chair where each child sits to open his present. Nice and orderly and ... (most importantly) condusive to picture-taking by the ever-present picture-taking moms and aunts!!!
"Smile!!!"
"And who do you think's gonna pay for all this?" This picture says it all. Those longsuffering Dads.
NEW YEAR'S
Well, we don't have pictures from New Year's because the camera was acting up. (I think we have enough in this post anyway ha ha). On New Year's Eve we had a progressive dinner and ended up at the Stricklen's, where we all, family by family, took the list of excellent year-end discussion questions from the Vision Forum website http://visionforum.com/ and made a brief journal of God's blessings, lessons learned, etc. This time means so much to our family. We seal each year in an envelope - like a time capsule.
Then Uncle Jay and Aunt Ashley treated everyone for fireworks, which were great! At midnight we gathered as an extended family to pray in the new year. We treasure these landmark moments with our extended famliy - 32 in all now. God only knows what the future holds.
On New Year's Day my mother's family came over to her house and we celebrated the Harris Family Christmas time. It was very special. My grandmother's gift to each of her children was an enlarged picture taken at my grandfather's funeral of the entire Harris family (less 2). Again, we do not know what the future holds. What a special picture! I think there were around 60 people in that picture.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY GOD'S BLESSINGS AND LEADING BE EVIDENT IN ALL OF OUR LIVES THIS YEAR!
-- posted by Mama
1 comment:
An Absolute WONDERFUL post!! I enjoyed seeing all the pix and fun being had by your sweet family.
Love you all,
Ma P
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