Merry Christmas 2015

Well, we did it, or should I say...Valerie did it!  Christmas Eve was the most wonderful day I've had in a long time.  We celebrated the start of Christmas by attending the 4 PM Mass, ALL of us, together! :)  I was SO happy!!



Valerie had worked hard all day preparing dinner. It was amazing.  Prime Rib roast, roasted potatoes asparagus carrots and onions, mashed potatoes (Clif can't live without those), and wild rice. I had baked the pies for her.  For dessert we had pumpkin pie, apple pie, and Stephen and Amber brought a coworker's maple syrup pie.



Dinner was ready when we got home from church.  She just turned off the oven and left everything in it while we went to church.  We just came home and ate.  But first, I had to get a family photo.



No, she didn't wear that to church.  She had already changed before she realized I wanted a family photo!

We bought a slimmer tree this year and gave Michael and Valerie our old one.  They said it fits much better in their "larger" living room than it did in ours.  I love our new tree.  Clif says, "what's the point?  The presents still take up just as much room as previous years.  They're just not all under the tree anymore!"



Valerie and Amber passed them all out while the rest eagerly awaited.





Watching the grandkids open their presents was such a delight.







Once the mess was cleaned up, the kids enjoyed playing together on the mats.





Levi enjoyed one of his new toys.




Christmas Day was our lazy day.  Valerie was exhausted from all her hard work.  Chloe enjoyed her snuggle time with Mommy and Daddy.  She kept taking turns between them.  It was cute.





They skadoodled over to her parents for the remainder of the day.

Stephen and Amber came over after they were done with her family and had Christmas dinner with Clif and I.  Diane had sent out a text suggesting we set a place in memory of Dad.  I cried at the thought, and did it.  I thought it was a great suggestion. (Michael had suggested after her text that I should just go to church again and be with Dad because during the Mass we state before the consecration "With all the Angels and Saints..."  and certainly Grandma and Grandpa are Saints!"  That made me cry some more!  We miss you dearly Dad, but are also happy you are now with Mom.



After dinner, Levi enjoyed another Christmas gift.  We took advantage of another opportunity for photos.  :)










Merry Christmas.  Wishing you a New Year filled with peace, joy, love, and abundant blessing.
Love to all! :)