Christmas Day

The children awakened at 5.  I heard them by 5:40.  Austin made them wait until 6:30.  They were ready!

 Santa came!

The loot.

 Paper.

 New jammies from Babcock Grandparents.

 Breakfast casserole.

 Mid-morning fun.

Austin instituted a new tradition -- the Polar Bear Plunge -- 60 degrees outside, 44 degree water temp.

 I made pizza for dinner -- every one ate heartily, and I was in the kitchen for an hour!

 An ode to Jim -- the Czecho-Slovak Symphony

Merry Christmas!  While eating breakfast I could hardly contain myself because I felt sheer joy.  Joy for my lovely children and husband, joy for the season, and joy for my testimony in Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve

Morning time came and we each made our own loaves of cinnamon bread and dipped pretzels to leave for Santa.  

We then went hiking all afternoon.

Of course we performed the nativity.

 This year the children didn't open jammies, they opened new stockings -- I embroidered their names.

 We put treats out for Santa, but Eddie ate them all evening long.

Our loaded tree that evening.

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Austin and I wrapped presents yesterday morning; this morning began the organizing.

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A Christmas Miracle -- SNOW!

 The entire day we spent finishing our Saturday chores -- hoping the laundry, house work and yard work will now keep until after Christmas -- but we did pause to drink in the sunset.

Evening spent sitting in lawn chairs and watching a light show choreographed to lovely holiday music.  It was a balmy 40 degrees in our chairs, so only minimal bundling was required.

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This morning I had an appointment with Dr. Reed.  My blood pressure was 90/45, super low.  I couldn't have ever guessed that -- nothing but huge stress these past weeks.  We mostly cleaned the house today.  The elders came for a vegan dinner.

This evening Eddie colored while I finished one of my six sewing projects.

 Austin and the kids watched a show.  

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Maisie stayed home sick with the stomach flu.  Eddie helped me wrap and unwrap five gifts -- not even a dent.  (3 gifts each for 7 people = 21packages to go.)

 

 I made cinnamon bread for the teachers.  These turned out so well.

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Wednesday morning Maisie had her school program.  Then the littles and I played games and read books.  In the afternoon we ground wheat (nothing better than brown-bread toast).  In the evening we helped get all the big people to their church activities.

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Tuesday.  Krispy Kremes and Andy's project.