Christmas Photographs - 2019
Updated: 01/23/20
Christmas Eve morning at our condo
Christmas Eve evening at Scott and Melanie's
New Year's Eve Group Photograph
> > > None in 2019. Nobody filled in for
Fred as photographer.
Getting ready for Christmas is a BIG thing in our house - like in most houses. Mary Lou decorates for all holidays but Christmas is very special.
We now (since 2017) have a six and a half foot tree. It is pre-lit and much easier for Mary Lou to set-up. The tree holds all of the ornaments she wants to hang. The old fashioned 'lead' tinsel 'makes' it her tree. As a matter of fact, the tree looks JUST like Mary Lou's trees have in the past ... so much so, no one initially noticed the smaller size (ie: 6.5' vs 8.0').
The Nativity from Mary Lou's mother and Mary Lou's Lenox snow people collection are always part of our Christmas decor.
Representing:
... the real reason for the season ...
... and, Mary Lou's love of snow.
New
this year - a candle forest . . .
We are fortunate that the Christmas Season brings our entire family together. We are together as a group only twice a year - both times are treasured.
Christmas Eve morning we begin our Holiday festivities. The Michigan family always has a great time together starting at about ten o'clock in the morning.
When the grandchildren came along, it was made clear to them that Grandma & Grandpa fill the socks and provide the gifts they receive at our home. Santa comes to their individual homes over night Christmas Eve for their Christmas morning fun.
Looks like Santa found our condo with socks for
children of all ages and also several
gifts . . .
Unwrapping the gifts in the socks is always the first activity.
After the socks are open and enjoyed, the families distribute their gifts to us and each other. After those gifts are enjoyed, our wrapped gifts are passed out. We traditionally take turns opening, starting with the youngest.
Opening wrapped sock gifts is serious work. Notice some dress festively, some more casual and one wore his new basketball jersey. Comfort is the word of the morning!
This
year was a little different, gift wise. The number of gifts was lower making
shopping easier.
Most of the family received a LARGE gift (countertop mixer, sound system) or SMALL gifts (wireless ear buds) or gift cards/checks.
Of course, Wyatt (our six year old) had to receive toys like usual.
Waiting
can be so hard ... he looks tall.
Cute smile . . .
Lily, are all those yours?
Ashlyn enjoys 3D puzzles. Wyatt laughed when he received an egg carton filled with miniature football helmets. Lily loves horses and jigsaw puzzles.
Lunch . . .
The
table was set for lunch with the holiday china and candles.
Everyone was called to pick up a plate and fill it in the kitchen.
We keep Christmas lunch delicious but simple.
No one has to spend a lot of time in the kitchen
and any of the fun. Mary Lou served Honey Backed ham, potatoes and other sides -
most prepared yesterday.
Wyatt
was served a special menu just to his liking.
Wyatt
wore his football helmet most of the day in case he needed the protection.
Maybe he knew Uncle Steve was going to play tackle football.
Christmas Eve evening we went to Melanie and Scott's for snacks and more gifts.
This
is another tradition we enjoy, Bruce and Kathy join us at Melanie's.
This is the gift exchange time between Bruce and Kathy and Michelle and Melanie's families.
Wyatt passed out the gifts this year.
The gift exchange begins with Bruce opening first, almost a tradition.
Kathy liked her scarf.
The gift opener is the center of attention. Mary Lou was in charge of used wrapping paper disposal.
Another football uniform!
Patriots and Raiders .
. .
Another cute smile ...
Helmet still on ...
It wouldn't be Christmas Eve if Bruce didn't get DVD movies to add to his extensive collection.
Everyone was happy with their gifts.
Okay everyone, time for snacks. There were hankey pankeys, chips and dip, spinach crab dip, crab rangoon dip, shrimp and chex mix. Dessert is a beautiful collection of Christmas Sweets prepared by Michelle's family.
Christmas Day morning our children and grandchildren are where they belong - at their homes. This family time is especially important when the children are young ... but ... great when they are older as well. Family time!
For us, it is nice to relax after the busy days leading up to Christmas Day. We enjoy a quiet day at home with Mary Lou cooking only easy stuff - left over ham and some other good stuff. We enjoyed the day watching Christmas movies from our DVR.
Many would call it boring ... but ... we enjoy our time 'alone' together.
We talked to Fred in Indiana (and his family) to confirm that Santa found their house. A call to Michelle and Melanie confirmed Santa's arrival at their houses. They all reported the arrival of a loaded sleigh. Using phone calls and texts, Caitlin, Ashlyn, Nick and Lily provided Christmas morning details. Melanie sent us photographs of Santa's visit. Wyatt Facetimed with us.
Kathy called Mary Lou to tell her about the beautiful sunset at her house. We had a great one also.
We went to see Ashlyn and Lily's gifts from Santa.
The day after Christmas, we made our traditional visit to Michelle and Steve's to see what they received on Christmas morning. It is always fun to hear and see Ashlyn and Lily's excitement.
It is a fun time seeing the family's Christmas Day gifts. (This year's trip to see Wyatt's gifts was canceled because Mary Lou was getting sick.)
How can a family of four have
seven Christmas stockings?
Yep, two dogs
and a cat add to the number.
Ashlyn
showed her gifts - cosmetics, clothes and craft supplies.
Riley came out from under the tree to assist.
Lily showed us puzzles, clothes and
horse riding clothing.
Our next Christmas gathering was with Fred's family.
We are fortunate to have the 'Indiana family' make the trip to Michigan to join us for some of the festivities. Again this year, they stopped at Melanie and Scott's for dinner out, an overnight stay and breakfast. Then, they visited with Bruce and Kathy at their house before arriving at the condo in late afternoon.
The overnight at Melanie's works out well - giving them time with Melanie's family. The visit with Bruce and Kathy gives them some special time together.
Once they arrive at the condo, they stay with us for the duration of their stay. Except, Saturday we had dinner out - the tradition seems to be Big Boy the last couple years. Their family likes Michigan's Elias Brothers Big Boy's sauces.
Fred and Michelle's families spend New Year's Eve together at Michelle's. It sounds like they are having a great time when we make our midnight phone call.
The
gifts under the tree and the socks near the tree are all set and waiting for our
fun time with Fred, Becky. Caitlin and Nick. We open gifts the morning after
they arrive. Everyone's old enough to wait now.
Thanks for showing some excitement Becky. The rest look so serious.
Caitlin and Nick play "Santa", delivering the gifts to the appropriate people.
You haven't opened them yet. How
do you know they are boring - huge
jars
of hand sanitizer!
Fred has been getting empty peanut butter jars the last couple years for small
items in his building.
They were not supposed to get wrapped as a gift ...
but ... easier to transport wrapped.
Becky needed kitchen towels.
And, clothes ... followed by gift cards and checks.
Walt and Linda, friends of ours, heard that the perimeter of the rec room in
Fred's building was wired for neon lights, gave Fred a neon sign.
After gifts were opened and clothes changed - it was off to Big Boy for their fill of Elias Brother's sandwiches.
Fred's
family's tradition of baby back ribs and sauerkraut for New Year's dinner
goes back at least 70 years - maybe over 100 years. It was his grandmother's
responsibility when he was young, then his mother's, now ours.
For about 60 years, Fred's aunt and uncle from Toledo came to Michigan for the annual rib dinner. Health issues made it impossible for them to make the trip since 2011. (Mary Helen died in 2014. Irv died in 2019.)
Everyone likes the rib dinner so much, we started eating and Fred forgot to make photographs this year.
Because of changes in the College Football Bowl schedule, our New Year's Day dinner has not been held on New Year's Day beginning in 2015. Instead, our New Year's dinner moves around to days that avoid Bowl games. Our family college football bowl fans can watch the games at home or elsewhere..
This floating dinner schedule is easier on us also. Cooking early New Year's day morning was always a rushed morning and lasted through the day.
We can no longer call the table in the kitchen "the kids table". Because of the wide range of ages, the kitchen table is now known as the "cousin's table". However, we refuse to call the table in the dining area the "old people's table".
After dinner . . .
Playing games on smart phones while the food settles.
Others played games or just had conversation.
Wyatt likes playing with Uncle Fred also.
By the time they finished, both had to pull up their pants.
After dinner, we sit around talking, sharing lots of stories and laughs. It is a great time to enjoy each other's company.
We thoroughly enjoyed having the Indiana part of the family and the local part of the family with us during the Holidays. Everyone had a fantastic time.
New Year's Eve . . .
Unfortunately, we missed our usual 'wild' party with the friends we hang around with during the year. It started with two couples about 50 years ago. Over the years, the group has grown to four couples. This year Mary Lou was sick. Not wanting to take her/our germs into someone else's house, we stayed home.
Word is Walt and Linda hosted a nice party. Next year, we are off to Carol and Ted's.
We were sorry we missed the Good conversation, Good DVD movie, Good food and time with Good Friends
Our condo does not have good views outside. It was driving Nick crazy. He asked if we could open the door wall blinds so he could look outside. We keep them closed so the Christmas tree ornaments do not get faded during the time the tree is up.
We
opened the blinds and moved a chair in front of the door wall. He sat there for
quite a while watching the squirrels play. He was happy again.
Fred and his family we able to spend New Year's Day with us. Many years they head home. We played games, ate left over rib's and watched football. They left for home on Thursday, we appreciate when the calendar works out so the holiday's are in the middle of the week.
GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS . . . making group photographs is another tradition. The rib dinner is one of those times when the entire family is together. That task is a lot easier since the grandchildren are older.
Scott & Melanie Fred & Becky Michelle & Steve
Lily Nick Caitlin Wyatt Ashlyn
WOW . . . What a neat photograph.
To our Web site visitors,
We hope you had a joyous Christmas Season.
We send you our best
wishes for a safe and healthy New Year.
