Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Home for the Holidays


Tom Turkey is in the oven; the casseroles are waiting in the refrigerator; pies, cakes, and cookies are baked; candles are glowing in the windows while the Christmas tree lights reflect the presents under the trees.  And Mimi is scurrying around the kitchen like a mouse in anticipation of cars pulling up the drive.

Finally . . .


Giggles, kisses and hugs . . .


They're all home for Christmas!!

With dinner in the warming drawer, the family leaves for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church, glad to pause and acknowledge the real reason we're celebrating.  After only one small incident with candle wax (which was, of course, caused by Mimi and just happened to involve Granddaddy), we dashed home to have our Christmas Eve dinner with the entire family.



Poor Beth started feeling sick during church and retreated to the bedroom downstairs during dinner.


The cousins all sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus


David and Jess again get the award for furtherest travel since they traveled from Athens by way of Kentucky with a pitstop in Atlanta before arriving on the Acre.  We're just glad they always can fit us in!


Just look how grown Mimi's boys are getting!!


We had our usual entertainment by the cousins . . .
(and, yes, there's always a game on!)





before opening gifts




Not sure why Cybie looks so sad . . .
could she have gotten in trouble?



for some strange reason the floor looks alot cleaner than usual with that many people opening gifts . . . maybe Granddaddy pulled a Pop and grabbed it before it hit the floor or Mimi was just late in getting a few pictures this year.


At the sound of Santa's sleigh bells and a glimpse of red in the sky, the extended family made their way through the woods and over the dell while the monkeys got on their Christmas jammies, sprinkled reindeer food, and left cookies for dear ole St. Nick before snuggling under snowflakes in the Nest to drift off while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads . . .




Thursday, December 20, 2012

Tis the Season . . .


. . . for Christmas trees, Carolers, Santas, burlap and glitter plus the contents of about 30 plastic containers


The biggest of five trees glistening on the Acre







. . . for special trips with special people
 






. . . for Christmas programs and parties




. . . for watching a little one in a new adventure


and

. . . for waiting


for the precious family whose lives are represented by the Candles on My Table to arrive


~ each life as different and unique as the candlestick that represents them ~


and as I wait, I'll pray for safety as they travel and that the Reason for This Season will glow as brightly in each of their lives now and forever as the candles on Mimi's table.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Day After Thanksgiving


Once again those sneaky little Elves, Lidious and Kidious, surprised ya'll with breakfast!



of course, they left their favorite foods . . .

doughnuts, snowflake pretzels, elf kisses, snowball doughnuts, and a box of your favorite cinnamon muffins for Mimi to make


They left letters to Santa for ya'll to complete . . .




Cybil's letter 


and their favorite cookies (Gingerbread Men) for ya'll to decorate . . .


along with little Elf ornaments for each of you for Mimi's tree . . .


They also left cute little Christmas socks to keep your feet warm and toasty!


After breakfast it was time to open your first gifts of the season from Mimi . . .


which were, of course, your Christmas pajamas!


Then it was on to decorating the Christmas tree . . .




and leaving your letters to Santa for Lidious and Kidious to deliver that night when they flew back to the North Pole.


Mimi loves looking at how ya'll placed your ornaments!


Now it's on to more Christmas fun!!