Christmas Eve with my folks (and bros and sisters).
Christmas day with Matt's Gram and about 30 extended family
Christmas evening with Matt's folks (and bros and sisters)
This leaves not a whole lot of time for US and a little family Christmas of our own or the making of our own yearly Christmas traditions. A fact which I mourn every year.
It also makes the days go by super fast, be super-filled with visiting (and gifts) and as a result: makes picture taking hardly a priority.
Nevertheless, I snapped a few.
From Our House:
1. Somewhere in the midst of baths, doing hair, dolling up, gathering and wrapping presents and opening stockings, I managed to make gingerbread pancake snowmen. With real whipped cream snow. (and REAL maple syrup that Matt's dad made....for the record)
2. a lovely living room with bits of love framing doorways, stockings waiting expectantly in the golden glow, and Mary and Joseph beaming with pride and adoration.
3. Finding a spot to hang stockings was quite the predicament. Eventually, I settled on an old salvaged shutter leaning against the wall.
4. Throughout the rest times of December, Corynn would make drawings, then wrap and tape them up and secretly tuck them into stockings. (I had my suspicions she was an elf!) I loved to watch how excited and intent she was as the receiver opened her present to them. She clasped her hands behind her back and stared intently at the unwrapping just long enough for the paper to rip before she swooped in and starting pointing and explaining the meaning of it all. Incredibly dear.
5. My precious nativity. One of the best wedding presents we received. An angel eventually flew from her treetop home to the stable in order to pay homage to the Christ child too.
6. Utter exhaustion. The very best kind.
From Gram's:
After lunch and before presents, entertainment is provided. This year we had a visit from Elvis.
From Matt's Folks:
The very best Christmas present ever was for Andrew this year. Grandpa built him a huge, beautiful wooden barn. With boxstalls and a removeable roof. And two entrance doors so the tractor can come in and out with turning around.
It is beyond beautiful and even more so was the time and effort he put into it. Grandma had the idea and Grandpa brought that idea to life, making the gift a beautiful token of love written from their hearts to his.
Everyone was flabberghasted when it was revealed and nothing could compare afterwards.
Apparently it was Santa's workshop over there because he also made a little doll cradle for Miss Adele'.
We feel incredibly blessed by their love.
4 comments:
Oh Rebecca, You didn't say ANYTHING about that yesterday on the phone (our conversation was a bit rushed though) Andrew's barn is AMAZING!! WHAT A GIFT! I am in awe of it, as I'm sure Andrew was (and everyone else!) :)
What strikes me the most about this post is the barn and cradle. And the thing that strikes me is how you and Matt are a match made in heaven.
I can only imagine that some husbands and wives might fight like cats and dogs over one of them wanting to do a homemade Christmas. Seeing the kind of family that Matt comes from, it appears that he was raised in a home in such a way that he fully understands what a blessing his talented wife is. That, Rebecca, is such a joy to me.
My own dear husband admires my talents every day, making me know how much he appreciates the things I do for our family, and I absolutely LOVE to see that other men cherish their wives in the same way.
From your garden, to your homeschooling, to your special meals for just the two of you, to all of the work that you place into making Christmas extraordinary, I know that Matt must see you as a terrific blessing.
Happy New Year!
Man...I'm working on a Christmas collage of sorts too! I guess I'll just have to look like a copy cat, that's all! Gorgeous pics! Elvis-snort, giggle! :)
LOVE LOVE THE BARN!
Have a Happy Day!
Amy
My Brandie is exactly one week younger than Corynn and she did exactly the same thing with her drawings! Your posts about Corynn always remind me so much of Brandie. They'd be fast friends if we lived closer together!
Blessings--
Dana
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