MERRY CHRISTMAS   2012

It was nice Christmas morning to get up and have the manger scene already lit in our dark living room.  The fire was still burning and it was toasty warm.  I poured a cup of coffee and took my time waking up.  

We went about our regular day, with Tom going out and doing the morning chores.  The animals still needed to be done, and he was so nice to go out and do them all in the morning.

I stayed in and started cooking the chicken.  I thawed two whole birds and made stuffed them with homemade bread stuffing.  I set out veggies that I canned, made mashed potatoes from ones that I canned.  I remembered I didn't have a dessert, so I took some strawberries from the freezer that came from our garden and made a "cuppa" cobbler.   The one you take a "cuppa" sugar, flour, and milk and beat it, pour it in a greased dish and bake.   So good!  Came to be that only Ken could stay, but that was o.k.  Lots more left to enjoy!

About 10:00 or so the kids started coming.   

We got settled in and began opening gifts.    Ken in his new superman shirt that his girlfriend gave him opened his cozy from Tommy and put his  collector can I bought for him from Kolher Brewery, which was a historic brewery in our area for over 100 years.

We got Becky new cookie sheets because she said Jake bent all hers cutting his pizza!  So, we got Jake his own pizza tray to make his snacks!  Tommy got his argyle socks that he ask for, as well as his Muppet collector glass that I had picked up months ago, and a warm pair of fleece bottoms that had Muppets on  them.

Becky thought these pair of bright fleece bottoms would be good for Jessalyn.

It was to be a small Christmas this year because things are hard for everyone all over.   I told the kids that just to come on Christmas day was going to make it a good day.  Apparently, they thought differently!



The kids decided it was my turn to  open a gift.  I really,  REALLY  liked my gift from them.  It was an entire portrait package.  They framed two of the pictures, and it is hard to pick which I like best.   I love it!  I will have to share it though.  I guess I can let Tom look at it once in a while! 



A special gift  from Becky and Jake for Tom.   I guess he will have to give in and let us look at it once in a while too!

There were so many other thoughtful gifts the kids gave each other .  Even though they all had their separate ways to go later in the day I really enjoyed having them here.