Well, for all of last night's being so very quiet.. today certainly made up for any of that. It's Christmas!!! and the first thought that came to my head is.. "we're all here, we get to celebrate with everyone".. and that is my Christmas gift!!!! After barn chores and making certain all pets were going to be good for the day, we headed down to Kassy and Nate's to have breakfast and open gifts with the Flagg side of the family. Needless to say when this part of the family gets together, there is very little room.......
It would seem that my stocking has suited Reagan well.. and it does hold a lot of goodies!!!!!
A beautiful breakfast for everyone... so yummy and so many good things to choose from!!!!!
And then "it" begins... and one little boy still isn't quite sure of all of this....
but it doesn't take him long to catch on.... this is the blanket that I made for him, with trucks and trains, and will fit nicely when he moves into his big boy bed......
Camille takes in all in stride... she's done this sort of thing before.......
Dave received a pot belly stove for the shop.....
Sadie, Jesse and Abi arrived a bit later, and Abi was so excited to open the gifts from all of us. She will spend the afternoon and evening with her Dad and his family.. so this little gal will certainly have a full day ahead of her.......
She got an Elsa doll from Papa and I... since the big movie of the year was "Frozen"... that seems to the the theme....
Charlie... checking it all out as well.....
and a new sweatshirt to wear when she goes and does "NEADS" things with Baby......
I'd say she's very exited about her new things......
One little boy seems ready for a morning nap... and I think we have done a "number" on Kassy's house....
so, while one little boy goes to rest up.. the big boys begin to play with the toys......
Sadie opens a few of her gifts.....
and a nice family photo of the "Manchester's".......
Later in the day we headed up to Mom and Dad's... they are doing well, but both are absolutely exhausted from the past month. Dad had a restless night, but he is more than happy to be home, and looks a little worse for the wear.... (thus no photos right now).....
But my family arrives to visit, have light eats and enjoy being together.... gifts are exchanged and appreciated but I know that we are just happy to be home and together....
Kelsey.....
And so the day ends with a few more gifts... and we don't stay too too long because both Mom and Dad are tired. Dad still has much healing to do, but just having gotten threw all of this is a true Christmas blessing...
and I am so happy tonite...
Christmas Eve .. day... so everything about this year's Christmas has not been the normal "way".. but it had made me come to think and appreciate things so much more, and for that I am grateful. We have received word that Dad will be home for Christmas and will be released from the hospital later on. Right now I am not planning on seeing him this evening, I think just getting home and settled will be enough "excitement" for one day, and we will be there tomorrow..... so, I stayed home, finished up some details and baked some more (of course) shortbread... my favorite cookie....
Then.. Titus and I watched some old Christmas movies and shows.......
Christmas eve we met up with Kas, Nate and Reagan and went to church. Reagan was so excited to see Baby, Papa and Danny walk into his church......
Danny was such a good boy.. the church was packed and really the room was so tight... but he just curled up under my feet, and like so many of the puppies before him... no one even knew he was there.....
Someone (though he is still too little to really know)... is excited about all of this... Reagan jumped from one person to the next during the service....
but this church is so about families, that one very excited little boy, only bring smiles to everyone's face......
After church we went back to Kass and Nate's for a bite of supper and just to spend the evening together. It was a "quiet" night for this family... with other members having gone other places.... but that's ok... I am appreciating what I have when I have it.....
and look who has discovered pockets!!!!! Reagan was so cute, putting his hand in his pockets and then walking about with one hand....
goodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reagan loves the dogs, and it is so nice to see how good everyone is with him. He kept walking over to Danny, petting him and saying "what a good boy".....
Playing hide and seek with Banjo......
Pockets again........
Opening the gift that Miss Gloria had sent in the mail for him.....
and his ornament being a little snowman with his name on it....
Finding just the perfect spot on the tree for it.......
and then, bedtime rolls around, and since tomorrow is going to be very busy... one little boy must get some sleep...
more than likely this will be the last Christmas eve that his parents will get any real sleep... because after this year, when some little chap understands the surprises of Christmas... sleep on this night will no longer exit....
peace and blessings to one and all....
The day before the day before.... December 23rd has always been a favorite day of mine, it just seems it's a fun time and a good day before Christmas goes whizzing by...and with talk that Dad will be home for Christmas!!! it makes this day even more special.. they will make the decision for certain and will more than likely release him tomorrow... he's still very weak and has much recovery to go.. but the fact that we feel we are almost out of the woods.. it just amazing....
We woke to a bit of snow.... just enough to make it a white Christmas.... and remind us of the weather that is yet to come...
Abi has come to spend the day with me, and we made tracks up to the barn to be sure that everyone there is happy and well.....
It's a quiet day.. even the doggies seem to just enjoy being together and soaking up the warmth of the woodstove...... Hunter and Trev... my old boys.......
I did the last minute wrapping projects.... getting ready.... and just so happy in the thoughts of our family being all together over the next few days....
Some Christmas surprises came in the mail today for Abi and Reagan.. sent to me by "Miss Gloria".. a wonderful older lady.. my friend, Cynthia's Mom. (she's in her 90's)....
I tried to get Abi and Camille to re-create an old Christmastime photo.. Abie was more than happy to stage it... Camille... had better things to do....
Abi opened Miss Gloria's card and inside was this beautiful little hand painted ornament that Miss Gloria had made.... Abi thought it was beautiful and wanted to take a photo that we mailed back to Miss Gloria... makes me so happy to see that the grands can appreciate even "small" things like this....
tomorrow is the "magical" night... and I feel so blessed that threw this whole season, with Dad being so sick.. that the grands always seem to keep bringing me back to how special this all is.....
and though we have the "fun of Santa".. we celebrate the real reason for Christmas....
and I say Merry Christmas to one and all and hope that everyone may enjoy this wonderful time of year.....
