Christmas Day

(Apparently, I only took pictures of the little kids!)

We all were up around 8:30.  One of the sweet young ladies in our church very kindly made us a big pan of homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas.  They were the very. best. cinnamon. rolls I have ever had!!  I was so excited.  I wanted to make a special breakfast, but I wasn't able to pull it together.  So, we were going to have bagels and cream cheese.  But then I forgot to get those at the store.  So I was resigned to having toast.  boring!!  After the Christmas Eve service, she handed me a big pan full of rolls.  That was one of the nicest things anybody has ever done for me!!

After breakfast, the little ones all opened their stockings while we waited for the big ones to join us.  Finally everyone was ready, and the presents were opened.  Oh what fun!  Sam Ben and Emma were so excited.  We had only got the big kids one gift, but it was a great gift and they all were very surprised and very happy!
It was a nice morning.

Then it was off to Nana and Poppy's for a delicious Christmas dinner with the family.  After the dinner the kids played games while we visited.

We got back home around 4, and then the whole tone of the day changed.  Zack was leaving.  He gathered all his belongings and got ready to go.  Paul, Jr. and the girls drove him to the airport and they left around 7:30.  It was a tough good bye.  He had been here several weeks and we were accustomed to having him home.  I hated to see him leave.

Paul Jr. stayed another week and left on New  Years Eve.  Another tough goodbye.  Sigh.  Saying goodbye is never easy.

We had such a nice Christmas season with both boys home, but it went way too fast.

Finally, Christmas Eve Pictures

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was busy!  Anna and I started with a run to goodwill and Walmart and got back home and cooked and cleaned all afternoon.  I made chicken noodle soup for lunch and it was delicious.  Zack, Ellie and Paul spent all afternoon at the church prepping for the Candlelight and Carols service.  Sam and Ben were so excited and so wild.  They each took turns wrapping their gifts for the family.  Emma was excited and wild also, but she really didn't know why.

The service was beautiful, as always.  The candle lit sanctuary and the familiar songs of Christmas were made for each other.  Emma was very antsy during the service, but was intrigued by being able to hold her candle.  Finally, the candles were lit and she sat very still, watching the flame.  So cute!

Then it was home to par-tay!!

I made several of our favorite appetizers and snack foods:  sweet and sour meatballs, bacon cracker appetizers, bacon wrapped lil smokies, a cheeseball, moose munch popcorn and sparkling cider.  We watched The Santa Clause 2 while we ate.

The little ones then went to bed, and Ellie and I got to work!  I had left the majority of the wrapping, so she graciously wrapped all the presents for me.  And, of course, we ran out of wrapping paper and had to scrounge around for other options.  She also cleaned the kitchen I had bought for Emma.  I bought it second hand, and it was in very good condition, just needed a good scrubbing.  Thank God for Ellie or I'd have been up most of the night.  While she did this, I stuffed the stockings.

Finally we went to bed...

(Blogger is not letting me upload pics so that will have to wait )

Christmas Sunday

 This was about the best picture I got of the 3 of them.

 Cute of Ben, cute of Emma, not so much of Sam.

 Cutie pies!

 In her beautiful Christmas Dress.  I LOVED this dress!

 So sweet.  ( I finally figured out how to get her to smile nice.  I tell her to show her teeth, and she does!)

 Beautiful girl in a beautiful dress.

 Walking to dad at the end of the service.

 A tradition for 7 years.

 Getting ready for a family shot.

 Still getting ready.

 There.  A nice picture.

 Awww.  24 plus years and I'm still madly in love with this man!

 Not sure.  Not sure at all.

 Maybe they were excited about Christmas?

 All I know is they posed for these pictures and they haven't done that for years.

 Paul Jr. and Joseph.

Again, I was taking advantage of the fact that Paul was letting me take his picture, even though it was an odd picture.

It was a very nice Sunday.  Later in the evening, we went carolling as a family to some families in the church and some older shut ins.  I wasn't sure how the older kids would react, but they jumped right in and everyone sang.  We brought them some cookies and everyone was so grateful and excited that we had come to their house.  Every year I'm always amazed when we go carolling.  It is such a little thing, but to these people, especially the shut ins, it means so much.

Afterwards, Dad suprised us and took us all out to dinner.  We hardly ever go out to eat as a family because of the cost of feeding so many people, so this was a real treat.  Then home to watch a family favorite, The Santa Clause.  It was a great day!  I loved having all my kids home!

Basehor

 My grandparents moved to Basehor in the early 1970's.  I was  8 years old, so I've been visiting Basehor for a very long time.  This is the house my Grandparents lived in until both of their deaths.  This house brings back alot of fond memories, and there is a pang of sadness that I feel when I see it, remembering that both of them are no longer here.

 My Grandfather's shed.

 This barn was a part of a dairy farm.  I have memories of going with my Grandma to pick up fresh milk here.  Sadly it is no longer in operation.

 My Grandfather pastored this church for many years and this is the church I remember attending when we lived with them for several weeks one summer.

 We used to roller skate in this parking lot.

 A cold dreary day in Basehor.

 I attended this school for part of 3rd grade.  All 4 of my sister's children have attended here.

 This little restaurant was a favorite of my Grandparents.  Back then it was called Victory Junction, and after my Grandmother died, my Grandpa  ate here quite a bit.   It closed a few years ago.

 Basehor will always hold very fond memories for me.  My parents moved here in 1997 and now my children experience going to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Basehor, just like I did.

Out of season...

 I picked up this bathing suit for Emma a few weeks ago when it was really marked down and hung it in her closet.

 She found it and had to put it on.

 And then modeled it for us.  (We're not sure what she was doing with her leg here)

 But she kept doing it and we kept laughing.

This is so reminiscent of her sister Ellie.  Ellie loved her bathing suit and for a while called it a "baben soup".  Ellie wore it alot!  So cute.