Christmas!! With All the Kids

What a wonderful thing to have all your children under one roof again. 

I can see that it won't happen super often. Our kids are comfortable living far away (that's our fault for moving so much!), and I know what it's been like for my siblings and I to try to get together (living east coast/pacific northwest/midwest ~ it rarely happens 😓).... 

But this year our kids were all here together and my heart is content.

We've been talking about the Christmas tree in the window for years now, and this is the year we made it happen. 

Joy!

Harrison and I picked up Lanaya Elizabeth from the airport Tuesday night (Harrison got some night time driving hours ~ in the fog, no less!). Wednesday we went to Spencer Creek Baptist's Christmas Eve service with Papa. (That's the church he grew up in.)

On Christmas Day, Phillip and Liz drove to the airport to get Amos and Jonathan. Phoebe and Harrison watched Charlie Brown Christmas. 

We had cheesy potato soup for a late lunch, and then lots of people took naps (the boys had had little sleep the night before because of flights and such). 

Phoebe had to sleep in the living room since the two bedrooms were full, so she was also tired. I don't know how she sleeps under the covers without smothering.

Christmas night Phillip prepared a slide show and Scripture readings about Jesus' birth.

Then gifts! 

So it was quite the shipping conundrum leading up to Christmas. Amazon had all kinds of possible dates for when gifts would arrive. The last I had looked, it said January15th. Most of those were stocking gifts, so I went into town and bought stuff from Dollar General and the thrift store. Then all of a sudden every single thing arrives on Christmas Eve! So we had plenty for the stockings.

The big Christmas meal was the day after Christmas because originally we thought Phoebe would have to work Christmas Day. It worked out just fine to do it that way.

Harrison decided he'd eat alone at the kitchen table instead of crowd with us in the dining room.

Elayne made the roast beef and lots of her special candy recipes that we love every year.

Opening gifts from Mimi and Papa.

Lots of hanging out and game playing.

And snacking! 

Jonathan will be here for three weeks total. and Lanaya Elizabeth and Amos flew back home Saturday evening (another late night for them).

Jonathan and Phoebe and the friend group gift exchange. 

Bunch of goofballs! 

(I heard about some of ya'lls gifts!)

Matthew and Harrison and some other friends have been working on a shack at Matthew's house. They dug holes on Saturday. It's good for this boy to get out there! But the muddy boots ~ we need a plan for that.

Merry Christmas, everybody!