Another year, another birthday. I want to go on birthday strike. Old age go away, never come another day. I wish I were still in my 20s, back in college. I enjoy looking at my college-aged cousins' photos on facebook and remembering those good 'ole days.
I did get a fantastic surprise. A portable convection oven! WOO-HOO! I've been missing our double-ovens from our last home. Now I can bake 2 things at one time, again.
This year we only have a single door, instead of a double. I found a nice wreath at Home Depot that seems to fit the door nicely.
This is the first year we had a low enough roof to attempt to hang lights on. I saw some cool dripping icicle lights at the JAX boat parade and discovered they are sold at Kmart. They were a really cool effect, once we got them up. It was a time consuming and maddening project to get the lights up . . . and ultimately was resolved with the purchase of a LONGER LADDER. If I had just bought that first, things would have gone a lot smoother.
The fuses kept blowing every few nights. The darned "lost bulb" made it impossible to light the "Merry" in our Merry Christmas sign. Then there were the vandals that cut the light string on our roof, stole candy canes, and stole one of the giant light bulbs. Ugh. I GIVE UP! That's good enough for this year.
Is it tacky to mix LED lights and standard lights? Oh well.
Christian's family has always had the tradition that a sheet is hung to block the kids' view of the Christmas Tree and gifts on Christmas morning. The kids all line up, youngest to oldest, and then when all is set, Dad gives the okay to let the kids come in. This year we had to block two openings to the Christmas wonders.
The girls were SO excited! It's time to go in!
First the kids hunt for their stockings, which are all hidden. They can look at all their stocking gifts and open any presents near their stockings, which are from Santa.
Santa gave Aleya her very own American Girl-type doll!
Amara also received an American Girl doll--Julie.
Orrin's dream came true. Mom and Dad are worried he'll shoot his eye out . . . or someone else's.
Mom's been hiding this in the garage for four months . . . a fanatastic 2nd-hand find.
A scarf, Lindt chocolates, and carmels for Andrea. Thanks Santa!
An Easy-Bake Oven? Do they still make those?
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Capener!
BARBIE FASHION FAIRYTALE DRESS!
Headless Orrin.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Yates!
After opening presents, Dad always makes a great Breakfast feast. YUM!
After spending several hours trying to get our gingerbread village together, we gave up and decided to finish it later. The frosting was just not holding the candy decorations on and I had to resort to hot-gluing most of them.
Late into the evening, we finally began our family nativity, while Dad read to us from the Bible. Christian served as both the narrator and as Joseph.
"Shepherds abiding in the field . . . And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east." Andrea and Joseph were the wise men this year.
The kids opened their traditional Christmas pajamas before going to bed. The catch was, I was so clever in hiding the pre-wrapped Christmas presents, I couldn't remember where I put them. It took me more than an hour too find them and the kids didn't get to bed until 11:30PM that night. Ugh.
For the first 9 years of our marriage, we always bought a REAL Christmas tree. Then came the deployment, and Andrea finally bought an artificial. She collects ornaments at after-Christmas sales and began collecting ornaments on while on vacations and this is the end masterpiece! She especially likes the giant ornaments near the bottom of the tree.
This is the first time in 5 years that we purchased a real tree. We decided the family room needed a little something extra. We always try to get the TALLEST tree in the cheaper 6-7 foot price range. We actually got a 9 foot treet that was perhaps, mislabed! What a deal! I used energy-saving LED lights on this tree. The kids decorated it with all the fun kids-type homemade and mismatched ornaments that don't really match the other, more elaborate tree. The smell was wonderful! The good news is that this time the tree didn't tip over . . . which usually happens with our real trees.
I flew out to Phoenix to attend my Grandmother's 90th Birthday party in Sun City West.
My mother arranged this event, invited the family, made a cool powerpoint picture presentation, and put together a scrapbook with pages contributed by family members.
They served delicious food at the party.
My grandmother (on right) made all these doilies for her great grandchildren and bigger ones for her grandchildren. Who's party is this, anyway?
The dessert table was the BEST thanks to my Aunt Jessie and my Grandma.
My mother made these AWESOME keepsakes to help remember this special event.
It was a fun party and family gathering.
I love my grandma! Still going strong at 90!
My sister, Julie, and I with Grandma.
My kids were excited to receive these nice gifts from their great grandmother. They wished they could have come with to the party.
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