Almost New Years!

Almost time for Happy New Year. Love all of the Christmas blogs that I read. Elliott's were funny with what the kids were saying. Such fun - at least I feel like maybe I was there! Your home decorations and trees were beautiful. Yesterday and today I am putting away the Christmas things. I love putting them up but feel good when they are down and put away and things get back to normal. Went to see Breanne yesterday and Emeri is growning so fast. She is crawling and stranding. She is still very tiny and is wearing 6 months size clothes. Pretty cute! Of course all of our children are pretty cute and special.

Took this picture of Emeri yesterday so thought I would post it. Now that Santa brought us a camera and I have figured out how to use it I can send more pictures. What a marvelous invention this computer thing!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Santa visited our house tonight-even though it was not Christmas day yet. We were all sitting in the living room and we heard jingle bells outside of the door. What is that I said, and Annie and Jack said, It's Santa Claus". As quick as could be they dashed up the stairs and low and behold he had been here. Their stockings were filled to the brim and what fun was had. They were so excited. Of course we were lucky because we had our dinner and Annie was Joseph and Annie was Mary. Annie's baby doll was the baby Jesus and they were so quiet while Grampy read the Christmas Story. Annie sang a song for us and then the sleigh bells rang. Santa had very good timing. Of course pajamas were on and they were ready to go home and wait for Santa to come there. As Jack got in the car he said to Annie, "This was a fun night". I thought it was fun too. Our church has a service at 11:00 tonight and I am trying to talk Grampy into going with me. Miss you all and the magic that we have here but I know you will make your own magic. Will post some pictures tomorrow as I don't have them yet! Merry Christmas to You All.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to Elliott and Ginger. Today is a special day for them with lots of memories. It is the day that Love was the beginning of wishes, hope, and dreams. Love you both very much. Grammy ( Look at the beautiful great grandchildren you have given to me.)

A Few Decorations!

Leslie helped me decide what to put in this blog. Soooo here are some of my Christmas Decorations. Wish you were all going to be here but understand and you are all so far away. This next week I will just enjoy Christmas Music and not having to rush around. Have a open house on Thurs. and need to visit a friend that just had surgery. Have a memorial service on Tues for a long time friend of 60 years that passed away very suddenly. Other than that and some grocery shopping it will be an easy week. Count you blessings and keep the reason for Christmas in your heart. Love you all, Grammy

A few Rememberances

These are a few more memories. Just thought I would put them in the blog. I think the one on the top was the last time that we were all together and everyone wasn't married and moved away. Elliott was a good sport and played a shepherd. This year it will be Jack as Joseph and Annie as Mary. I guess I just get sentimental this time of year and I think about the Christmas Eve's with my 3 boys and then all of my grandchildren. It is still a wonderful time of year and the real meaning of Christmas is what it is all about. Sometime with all of the many things to do it is easy to forget the real meaning. Love you all, Grammy

Christmas is gettin closer!

Today is Sunday and after church I am going to wrap gifts so that I can get them in the mail tomorrow. Would love to deliver them in person but that's not going to happen. Do you remember this picture from Christmas' past? You were all so little. I am not sure but I think Julianne was the baby. This was a good tradition and I still have the costumes for your children. Last year Annie was Mary and Jack was Joseph we had a doll for the Baby Jesus. Maybe Max will be the baby this year or Emri?? We still do it even though you all aren't here in person, just in our thoughts and precious memories. The sleigh bells will ring and Santa will have come and gone. Everyone will run upstairs and see what he left. Of course we will miss David reading the Christmas story so Grampy or Matt will and then we will sing some carols all before the sleigh bells. Everyone goes home early to wait for Santa at their house and Grampy and I will go to the midnight church service.

This is a late birthday message. Tried to post this yesterday but it wouldn't download so today it is. This is the way I remember Leslie. Always such a darling and pretty little girl. I remember the birthdays we went shopping and came home to show grampy what you had chosen. Now you are 29 and a beautiful mommie and wife. Happy late birthday and know that I tried to blog this on the real day. Today is a busy one-still have much to do before Christmas. I am going to run down to Breanne's for a bit this morning and then back to do some errands - like the grocery store, etc. Wish all were closer so that I could just run over and say Hi and see all of the kiddos once in awhile - Guess pictures and blogs will have to do. I am so grateful that I can do that. Love you all - Grammy

Is Santa really real?

Leslie I know you wonder what to tell the children whether Santa is real or not. Do you remember the magic of Santa when you were little? Santa is the spirit of giving and love. Didn't the wisemen bring gifts? You will always tell and read the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus as being the reason we celebrate Christmas. We always keep Jesus in our heart as most important. Didn't we have the nativity scene and read the story from the Bible every Christmas Eve. That was the true meaning of Christmas. Santa is just part of the magic of Christmas. I don't think it ever took away from the reason for celebration. Did it for you? Would you trade that magic and memories? Did you know why we celebrated Christmas? Of course you did and we all tried to keep the real meaning alive. Like I said Santa is just part of the magic. When my boys asked me if there was really a Santa I explained that he represented the spitit of giving and love. Don't think they really understood until they were older but it eventually makes sense to them. Have fun and make good, happy and wonderful memories. Love you Grammy