Christmas 2017

Somewhere there is a picture of what actually went on here that Friday night. My friend with eight children under the age of 12 asked if she could come over and we could dip chocolates.

Sure why not?

At one point we had a whole bunch of little helpers around this table...gotta find the pics.

We used a bit over 6# of chocolate, my friend had made the oreo truffle and buckeye fillings before she got here because y'know, a mom with eight kids really has nothing else to do.

Saturday was a day for family gatherings....pinata, too much food..

A craft version of Chopped, we only got to round #1.

I gave them each 3 large coffee filters, scotch tape and a scissors.

They didn't want me to take pictures of their finished craft.

This is an idea I want to re-visit with a bit more pre-planning.

Christmas Eve was on Sunday, so in the afternoon, we opened most of our gifts.

Shekinah still loves Peppa Pig.

Faith got two pair of footwear that she didn't need :)

Zeke has been curious about the M'bira

Hope paid for part of her "new artillery" (a Canon)

Joe got a Steeler's blanket

Christmas Day with all the kids home. Thought I'd better take pictures because it probably won't happen again for a few years.

We didn't do the Thanksgiving version.

I made the food for this meal.

We've been eating egg rolls and potstickers for either Christmas or Christmas Eve for the past several years and they all (well all except Parker) seem to love it.

Parker ate rice...he'll learn- his daddy did.

Hudson dear, could have been satisfied with wrapping paper.

It was a good Christmas, I love having everyone home.

I think back to last Christmas...

Hudson was only --well, on his way.

Ben still hadn't asked Jana to marry him.

I wonder what this next year holds.

In all the hustle of family gatherings, chocolate dipping, Christmas programs,Christmas caroling, egg roll wrapping, shopping and flu season I think,

 it is best if you tell the story of Christ's birth and the reason he needed to come to earth, way before Christmas day. It should be a year-round conversation because the gift of Christ doesn't stop on Christmas Day, it was just  one part of the Salvation Plan.