One of the best things about the Holidays is being surrounded by family. As far as our children go, we only had Jared and Cheryl here for Thanksgiving. Cheryl invited her friend Parker as well, so there were five of us. In spite of our low numbers, we had an enjoyable time.
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Unlike Thanksgiving, we had a full house for Christmas. Kyle, Emily, Milo, and Clara were the first to arrive followed by Ryan that same night. Two days later Eric, Nicole, Ethan, Ella, and Livi arrived, then Cheryl and Parker later that day. Jared wasn't able to arrive until Dec. 21st, but Parker had left by then to go to Utah to spend the holidays with his family. We now had a very full house. There were 14 of us. I think that is the most we have ever had sleep here at the same time - except for a YW sleepover. Ethan, Ella, and Livi had to sleep on air mattresses on the den floor, but everyone else got a bed.
Eric's family always has Christmas Eve at the Beelseys so we had our own Christmas Eve on the 23rd instead of the 24th. As part of our evening, we had a live nativity. Since Clara is still an infant it was nice to be able to have a baby to play the roll of Baby Jesus while reading from Luke 2. Ella was Mary, Kyle was Joseph, Ethan was a donkey, and Milo was a lamb. I love this picture of Milo adoring baby Jesus (or Shesus as we called him because Clara is a girl).
Livi was the angel and Eric, Ryan, and Jared were the three wise men.
After the live nativity, we read "The Christmas Orange" together and learned the importance of sharing and giving to others as Christ did. Then Kyle introduced us to the "Tim Tam Slam." I had never heard of this before, but in Australia they have rectangular shaped chocolate covered wafer cookies called Tim Tams that are good by themselves, but when you take a small bite out of each end and put them in hot chocolate and suck like a straw, the cookie kind of dissolves and creates chocolatey yumminess.
Kyle demonstrates how it is done.
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Here is a picture of all the grandchildren in their pajamas on Christmas Eve. Milo wasn't being very cooperative. Eric's kids get new pj's every Christmas Eve at the Beesley's house. This year the girls got face masks as well and they loved them. They slept with them all night long too.
We had a little Christmas miracle...well, at least Kyle and Emily did. Clara hadn't been sleeping well, waking up several times during the night to be fed. Before she went to bed on Christmas Eve, I spoke with her and told her that if she wanted to give her parents a Christmas gift she should sleep through the night. Well, this little three month old took my advice and slept until about 7 a.m. That was the only night she did that during their two week stay here. Good choice of nights, little Clara. Great gift to your sleep deprived parents.
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While Eric's family was at the Beesley's on Christmas morning opening their gifts, I watched Kyle and Emily have their little Christmas with Milo. He got a little toy trumpet that he loves to play.
Milo loves Handy Manny so when he opened this gift, he got all excited and quickly wanted to put it on.
Later, we got a surprise visit from "Buddy the Elf." Nobody saw it coming. He was a huge hit. He even handed out our Christmas gifts. So much fun.
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Alan and I gave each other a new washer and dryer for Christmas this year. Our old ones were 15 years old, so it was long over due. I really love them. It almost makes doing laundry fun.
Among other things, Alan also gave me this amazing new printer that is also a copier and a fax machine. It is top of the line amazing! Alan really went overboard for Christmas this year...more than in years past. I love that man!
Eric's family always has Christmas Eve at the Beelseys so we had our own Christmas Eve on the 23rd instead of the 24th. As part of our evening, we had a live nativity. Since Clara is still an infant it was nice to be able to have a baby to play the roll of Baby Jesus while reading from Luke 2. Ella was Mary, Kyle was Joseph, Ethan was a donkey, and Milo was a lamb. I love this picture of Milo adoring baby Jesus (or Shesus as we called him because Clara is a girl).
Livi was the angel and Eric, Ryan, and Jared were the three wise men.
Kyle demonstrates how it is done.
**********
Here is a picture of all the grandchildren in their pajamas on Christmas Eve. Milo wasn't being very cooperative. Eric's kids get new pj's every Christmas Eve at the Beesley's house. This year the girls got face masks as well and they loved them. They slept with them all night long too.
We had a little Christmas miracle...well, at least Kyle and Emily did. Clara hadn't been sleeping well, waking up several times during the night to be fed. Before she went to bed on Christmas Eve, I spoke with her and told her that if she wanted to give her parents a Christmas gift she should sleep through the night. Well, this little three month old took my advice and slept until about 7 a.m. That was the only night she did that during their two week stay here. Good choice of nights, little Clara. Great gift to your sleep deprived parents.
**********
While Eric's family was at the Beesley's on Christmas morning opening their gifts, I watched Kyle and Emily have their little Christmas with Milo. He got a little toy trumpet that he loves to play.
Milo loves Handy Manny so when he opened this gift, he got all excited and quickly wanted to put it on.
**********
Alan and I gave each other a new washer and dryer for Christmas this year. Our old ones were 15 years old, so it was long over due. I really love them. It almost makes doing laundry fun.
Among other things, Alan also gave me this amazing new printer that is also a copier and a fax machine. It is top of the line amazing! Alan really went overboard for Christmas this year...more than in years past. I love that man!
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