Christmas, Christmas time is here....

I only set out a few of the figures that Mom had made this year.  It was just as nice a nativity without as much to dust! I thought that somewhere along the line all the girls and I would get together to make cookies but everyone was working to hard and to much.   I spanned them out as usual, dough one day, bake the next, frost another.  I got them done but I guess I made to many again this year.

Jessalyn and Becky made cookies too.  Jess is always making good cookies.  She was up until midnight making Christmas cookies right before the holiday.  Becky found time to do the same. 

They both put me to shame! They were really good!
I worked my way at decorating.  Tommy helped with lights outside when it was warm.  Eventually I got the tree up.  I think he was the only one to put his ornaments on.  he bought some candy canes to put on there too.  I'm surprised the dogs didn't think it was their treat!

I decided to put a small tree in the hallway.  People would be walking down and can enjoy lights there too.  I put up the wicker Santa sleigh with lights and toys and greens.   It sat right in front of the needlework picture Mom did years ago. Still no snow so we have to compensate inside!

I feel very lucky that all my kids could come again this year for Christmas.  I keep thinking it might not happen again.  Eventually, they all will be to busy with their own little families, or moved away.

My very first Grandma gift is from Noah! It's a magnet he picked out himself from the Christmas store at school.

I cooked up a ham dinner for everyone.  Lily learned to make the gravy this time.

Well, guess who thoroughly enjoyed the meal!

A little to many sugar cookies??? Funny girl!

Lily's favorite spot to be. This time it was Jack's turn.

After all the hubbub, we played a new game, Dirty Santa.  Everyone picked four gifts. You could keep, trade, or steal from each other up to three times.  The thing is,  two had monetary gifts hidden in them.  One was a dollar, another five dollars.  No one knew until the end who had the gift with the money.  Some gifts were fun, some dumb, and some no one really wanted.  It ended up Jake got the dollar gift in  the form of a kids finger puzzle game, and Tommy got the five bucks in the lid of onion salt.  It was fun I thought for a spur of the moment.  Next year I would like to do a gift card if we have enough people coming!

Excited Miley once again.  Happy that all the kids are here.