Friends
The Lohnes and Deveraux family (making 10 kids and 7 adults). We've had over 30 before. The more the merrier!
Food
Apple nut salad. Peas & baby onions. Lime slush. Apple cider. Pumpkin pie. Ham. Turkey. Yams. Other yummy stuff! Kayla told us that the she wasn't homesick at Thanksgiving until she realized the family she was eating with wasn't having peas w/onions!
Apple nut salad. Peas & baby onions. Lime slush. Apple cider. Pumpkin pie. Ham. Turkey. Yams. Other yummy stuff! Kayla told us that the she wasn't homesick at Thanksgiving until she realized the family she was eating with wasn't having peas w/onions!
Family
Tall Andrew and me. Isn't he handsome!
Tall Andrew and me. Isn't he handsome!
Games
We play a game where 4 boxes are wrapped inside of each other so there is only one large box to begin with. Whoever is it gets ski gloves, a fork & spoon and has to try to get to the smallest present before the next person that rolls a double grabs the gloves and utinsils. Fun!
We also play Christmas charades for the kids. We still laugh about Braden's 3 year old voice yelling "I'm diggin' in the NO!" when we couldn't figure out what he was doing. I can't believe it's been 10 years!
Nativity
Shea was a very beautiful Mary and Braden was a the best shepherd ever! Robert reads the Nativity as all the kids act out their parts.
Shea was a very beautiful Mary and Braden was a the best shepherd ever! Robert reads the Nativity as all the kids act out their parts.
MusicWe love Christmas music and each year everyone is invited to share their talents. I took a short video of Shea on the piano and a duet of Robert & Braden, but I can't seem to get it to upload. I may try it again later! Because I'm sure you just won't be able to sleep without seeing them!
Celebrating the Light of Christ.
For the past 22 years we have ended each Christmas eve with the same tradition. (thanks to Uncle Johnny & Aunt Linda!) Each person gets a candle and then all the lights are turned off. Robert lights his candle and as he talks about the light of Christ and our responsibility to share it we light each candle around the room. A very visual example of the power of light. At the very end we sing Silent Night.
When we got Kayla's email on Sunday, she asked that we light a candle for her. Shea, of course had to be the one to do this. Kayla told us today during our phone call that at a district meeting yesterday, she had been asked to share a Christmas story and she told about our candle tradition. And yes... she cried!
2 comments:
What great traditions, that makes me want to cry to :)
We miss having Christmas Eve with you! Your traditions are so neat! Also, its crazy that you are out on a walk with sun glasses on!!!
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