Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Once they were the children that I was waiting for and wanting to wake up on Christmas morning.  Now Allison, Heather & Jennifer have children of their own and they were the first ones awake - and waiting for their children to get up (except for Ryan) so we could see what Santa brought to each of us.  It was nice to enjoy a few minutes together before the day started.  

As soon as all the kids were awake, and husbands out of bed, it was time to find out what we had been left in our stockings.  Judging by the gifts, everyone must have been nice and not naughty this year.  And of course we each found a mandarin in the toe.  

Ryan was mostly interested in his candy cane, but Erin loved her hat so much so wore it most of the day.  Elaina was excited to read the note that Santa had left.  

 

All the kids seemed anxious to find out what Grandpa Ducky got from Santa. 

My gift this year was a set of Christmas dishes - 3 sets, actually (just to have enough for all of us).  They weren't under the tree, but we enjoyed them all during the holidays.  After emptying our stockings, we had breakfast before continuing to the rest of the gifts waiting under the tree.  This wasn't our Christmas morning breakfast, but we did have berries and tropical fruit every day since they are grown locally and very cheap.  

It was obvious that a lot of thought and effort was put into each gift - not only to make them compact and light weight for transporting back home in suitcases, but to select something meaningful.  Isaac got his first set of cars, Mike had expressed interest in learning to play the harmonica, Trevor had made cutting boards for each couple, and Brian got an appropriate addition to his travel collection of Lonely Planet Guide Books.  

It was great to see the kids' interest in others' gifts and not just focus on their own packages.  It made the morning a very pleasant time as we took our time and focused on the giving more than the getting.  We were all richly blessed.  

There were even quiet moments of reflection and relaxation.

This just proves he can sleep anywhere!!!

The gift I was most excited about this year was a book of my Mom's life history.  She had been writing it for many years and I'm sure some thought she might never get it finished.  Little did they know that for the past couple of years I had been helping her with the editing.  I spent more than a year editing the many photos on Photoshop and then compiling the photos and her written words into a 100-page, hard cover book.  Mom watched on Skype as Allison and Jennifer opened their copies; she had given one to Heather in Calgary.  I am so thrilled to have worked together to share this treasure.    

It wouldn't be Christmas without a turkey dinner and all the trimmings, and I appreciated everyone's contribution to this special dinner (and every other meal over the 10 days).  I particularly enjoyed working with Elaina to set a special table.  

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!