Jeremy and Mike needed to drive back to DC that day, so we had to get started in good time. Our goal was to start at 11:00 and we almost made it, even Frank's family getting here all the way from Reading (3 hour drive) just as we were getting started!
There was lots to do to get ready. We were having the meal over at Anthony's. Dick and Ray left in the truck to pick up tables and chairs from the Houserville church. I had a load of kettles, food, and more gifts. Sam stopped at Weis on the way there to pick up some more food. Thyda helped me to get everything set up assembly line style. The guys got the tables, chairs, kettles of oil with all the proper cords and protections put into place. Mike and Jeremy were helping to make the chocolate and cheese fondues. At last the fun was ready to begin!
Around the table:
Ray, Thyda, Jeremy, Mike.
Sammy, Sam, Bianca.
Dick, Anthony.
J'von, Destiny.
Jada, Frank.
Lauren, Alaya.
After lots of food and lots of laughs, we said our goodbyes to Jeremy and Mike and their dogs. How did I not get any pictures of Molly and Watson??
Then we gave our gifts to Frank's children.
This adorable little girl is in a big hurry to grow up!
Sammy had fun setting up his ticking bomb again!
Most of the adults and the older kids then went outside to Anthony's shooting range for some target practice. I gave my camera to Destiny and she took LOTS of pictures! Here are just a few of them. Everyone was freezing when they came back inside.
What a cute selfie!
I love this shot of J'von.
Important ear protection!
Meanwhile, I was nice and warm inside playing with the little girls. I helped Jada to assemble the LONG floor puzzle we gave her. She did such a great job!
There it is! Jada is way down at the other end.
Austin's light sabers were a hit! (Don't tell him, haha!)
I wanted pictures of everybody, but it was not easy. At least these two cooperated!
Bianca, however, was not at all in the mood for cooperating. This was the best we could do!
Jada was in no mood for cooperating either! We were lucky to get her standing there!
Later we got a beautiful smile from her for this adorable sister picture!
I LOVE this shot of Lauren and Alaya!
When it was time for Frank and family to leave I realized this was a chance to finally get pictures of our three boys together for the first time in a couple of years. I wished I had thought of it earlier before Jeremy left so I could have gotten a picture of Dick with all five sons.
Then it was time to clean up - the old oil to dispose of, the leftovers to put away properly, the tables and chairs to take down and load in the truck. Everyone worked together. I was the last to leave. I told them I could wash up all the dishes better by myself, because I'm so used to Lori's kitchen.
Back at our house I gave Sammy a job which he loved doing at Thanksgiving - sweeping the entry way with the little dust pan and brush. He is meticulous!
Later the young adults went out to eat and we again had fun with these two little comedians!
We also had a Christmas carol sing-along at the piano! What hams! Bianca can really sing too. She's not about to let Sammy get all the glory, haha!! Here's a link to a little video Thyda took when they got back home. I hope you can open it.
https://www.facebook.com/thyda.c.gonzalez/videos/1381100791902905/
Sammy wanted to sleep on the cot at the foot end of our bed that night, as he has done sometimes before. When he woke up Tuesday morning, he crawled up beside me and whispered, "I can't wait to go to church." I hated to break it to him that this was not Sunday and we would not be going to church. I thought how smart that was of him! So many times they have come here on weekends, and after we have slept two nights it is Sunday morning and church. So he intuitively felt like after two sleeps it should be time to go to church!
I made scrambled eggs with bacon and home fries for everyone. We all need a hug in the middle of breakfast, right?
Sammy discovered these decorations in a drawer. I had not ever put them up since we live in this house, so he had never seen them before. I told him that maybe next Christmas I will have Grandpa hang them up. That was not a satisfactory answer. He wanted them up THIS Christmas. So Sam obliged and Sammy was happy!
That afternoon they all left for home and I felt tired and weepy as I faced all the catching up and cleaning up and organizing I had to do. Not weepy because of the work, but weepy because it was all over. I was not at all sure how this Christmas would work out, but it far exceeded my expectations. Like I asked Him to, God did work it all out.
I really just wanted to look at my pictures and reminisce after everyone left, but instead I put on some Christmas CDs LOUDER than I did this whole season, and it put me in the mood to get everything cleaned up. It worked!
And that was our Christmas 2016. We're looking forward to a little trip to Lancaster County tonight through Saturday, and I expect to have many more pictures to take. Stay tuned!
