Wednesday, December 30, 2015

as always


  



  
  





  












  



Beautiful busy days floated by so quickly and precious memories piled high like the snow piled on the ground at home.  Our week was full of lovely family times on the other side of the mountains!  We got to visit my brother and his new wife when they invited us for an evening of dinner and cookie decorating.  We were so delighted to visit our home church for Christmas Eve service. I loved watching the girls have story time with their Great Gramps.  My mom's spectacular clam chowder and homemade applesauce was our traditional Christmas Eve meal before cookies and Santa preparations, as always.  Santa visited and as he always does, ate some cookies and shared carrots and celery with the reindeer, including his new reindeer, Murphy.  We know about Murphy because, as he always does, Santa left a letter to our girls and told us about Rudolph's son, Murphy, whose antlers glow!  Imagine that!  Much handier than a glowing red nose, don't you think?

Sleepy eyes widened when they saw the goodies left in stockings and Christmas morning quietly began as it always does.  My mom set up a cocoa bar as she always does, and we sipped warm cocoa and coffee while waiting for gift opening to begin, a tradition we slowly spread throughout the day, sitting in our pajamas for hours and taking turns opening a gift each.  With eleven family members now, this takes a lovely long time!  My girls didn't change out of their sweet new nightgowns from Great Grams until they changed into their next set of pajamas for bedtime Christmas night, even eating Christmas dinner in them.  Baked ham, our traditional Blue Cheese Rosemary scalloped potatoes (yum!  This is my 9th year making these lovelies for Christmas!), cheesy pearl onions, and more.  Not to mention the incredible gingerbread cake by my new sis-in-law.  That evening we watched "Inside Out," which, if you haven't seen, you should.  Tonight.  As soon as you can get a hold of it.  I kid you not, there was not a dry eye in the house at the end, even all the men.  It was directed by the same person as "Up."  So you know what I mean.  So. Good.  

We will be visiting some new friends for lunch on New Year's Eve but otherwise the end to our holidays is looking slow.  I think we may watch "It's a Wonderful Life" after the girls go to bed because we haven't yet had time to watch it.  Our favorite Christmas movie, isn't it incomparable?  Slow and cozy sounds nice after the rush of the holidays with family. It does not escape my attention that our family is such a blessing; I am so thankful for my mom and dad, brothers, new sister-in-law, my other brother's girlfriend - and that's just on my side of the family!  We have fun and there is so much love when we are together. 

Happy happy arrival of 2016 to you.  These days are precious and should be treasured up, regardless of whether you are eager to see 2015 pass away or sad to see it go.  Each day is the only one like it.  
Love,
Sarah

5 comments:

  1. Oh what a lovely Christmas you had! Gorgeous photos - look at those cuties in their matching outfits. It all sounds so lovely, as it was stinking hot here. I will have to see that movie as every time I watch Up (and it must be about ten plus times by now), I cry. Great movie. Blessings for a happy new year to you and your family.

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  2. Wonderful memories and happy traditions with family. All that Christmas should be. Thank you for sharing yours with us.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  3. Oh honey! It was a beautiful time and I miss you all like mad! I treasure my times with you all together.
    xoxoxo

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  4. Oh, this is so lovely! Thank you for sharing this piece of happiness!

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  5. Lovely photos of you and your family! Looks like a fantastic gathering and celebration!!

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