Merry Christmas!

It has been a flurry of holiday activity around our house. It seems like it was just Thanksgiving and here we are on the eve of Christmas Eve. So as not to give Thanksgiving short shrift, I’m including a picture of Eva with her cousins, Colin and Ryan, at Thanksgiving, although it looks more like Christmas. It was taken at the Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC); Sean and his family and Eva and I went down the mountain from our aunt and uncle’s house to see the National Gingerbread Competition. It amazes me what some really talented people can make out of gingerbread and other edible items. While we were there, we took advantage of the sleigh that sits in front of the immense fireplaces at the Grove Park Inn. It’s almost a shame we have relatives in Asheville, as it would be nice to stay there, particularly over Thanksgiving weekend when they decorate and have a fire roaring in the lobby.

We had such a fun time over Thanksgiving. We played a lot of games, including BINGO, which is a favorite of Eva’s. She enjoyed calling more than playing. She also made sure we had a prize table set up, like they do at her aftercare. Popaw was the first winner, and his prize was a can of cashews! Colin and I played a lot of Fluxx, which is a really fun game for older kids and adults. The rules and goals of the game can change in the blink of an eye, and it is clear to me that a 13-year old brain definitely has advantages over a 40-something year old brain! Eva and Ryan played a lot of Pictureka and Duck, Duck Bruce. We all enjoyed lots of delicious food and great company on Thanksgiving.

In the past month, there have been lots of things going on – school program, pancakes and pajamas party (see the picture of Eva and her friends Kyra and Makyla), Advent prep dinner at church (a photo of Eva from that ended up on the cover of the church newspaper, and Eva couldn’t have been more excited), singing in the candle lighting service at church, a small cookies and cocoa party and friends’ birthday parties, to name a few of the things.

We will be here for Christmas; we’re looking forward to hosting Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch with dear friends at both. And then next week, we will head to Ohio for a late Christmas with the whole family. We’ll have some time in Columbus first with my cousin’s family and then we’ll head to my sister’s in Lancaster for all the fun we can handle and then some I am sure. A highlight is our annual white elephant/dirty Santa exchange. Eva and I picked some great gag gifts, and we can’t wait to see what everyone else brings. I am sure we’ll play a lot of games, do some puzzles, eat a lot of good food, and make many memories. This is my nephew Samuel’s first Christmas with us, so I know it will be extra special for all of us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!