The 2019 Christmas Eve Recap

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Over the past 15+ years, we’ve made it our tradition to gather together with the married young adults and their families on Christmas Eve, whoever can come. Amazingly, it’s worked out to be everyone.

With almost 30 of us, the house rang with laughter, talking, and much joy.

I love seeing the little kids’ excitement over their gifts to the other cousins and aunts and uncles. Little Benji slept with his gift for Mary (art paint pens!) for nights before Christmas.

It’s a blessing to have family who love each other and love being together.

Enjoy the peek into Christmas Eve!

Have a great Monday,
Sarah

Breakfast buffet
Little Danny has taken a huge interest in making coffee and watching it brew.
Dad and Mom gave Abby, Betsy, and Tina gift cards to Hobby Lobby which meant a shopping trip with Grandpa and Grandma (scheduled for the following Monday, which yes, happened!).
Anna gave Betsy running shoes.
Benji excited about his paint pens for Mary
Danny was very pleased about this new ball; what you don’t see is all the other funny things he did with it, including falling over and holding onto it. He found a need to sit on it to keep possession of it.
Notice again the little kid’s excitement giving to the adult
Talk about cute
I think Danny was “helping” Jesse open a gift which Danny himself gifted.
Quite a group of kids.
Calendars for Dad and Mom from Nathan’s crew
Mary made this amazing gift for Joseph. Truly a labor of love.
John’s gift was in a tree, and he was amazingly creative in retrieving it. He knew where the ladder was, but that would have been too easy.
Success!
After John retrieved his present, we gathered for a light lunch.
We’ve outgrown one table when we’re all together, so we’ve added a second smaller one, and although tight, it works.
Some played games in the afternoon.
Dad and Benji
Then, in the evening, we had our Christmas dinner and Christmas program.

After dinner, we had our little Christmas “program,” started years ago by Grandad. Here’s the link if you’re interested.

“That the generation to come might know them, even the
children which should be born; who should arise and declare
them to their children: That they might set their hope in God,
and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:”
Psalm 78:6-7

14 thoughts on “The 2019 Christmas Eve Recap”

  1. You guys all had a wonderful time!

    I think it’s amazing and so cool that you share this so that we can enjoy it too 🙂 🙂 🙂

    THANKS! (Favourite photo is Sarah and Deborah) – keep up the loving work Sarah it means a lot to see your continuance in sharing so much with others!

    1. Because through the years, Anna and John often disguise their presents to each other and come up with clever ways to make them difficult to get into.

  3. What a wonderful Christmas celebration!

    Do you usually pair people up to exchange gifts? I just wonder how it works, since your family is growing 🙂 I would love some input for my family’s next Christmas.

    Many blessings,

    Alice

    1. The past few years the siblings and cousins have begun drawing names. They do a sibling to sibling draw including the spouses. They also do a cousin/cousin draw, and they do a cousin/aunt-uncle draw. Grandpa and Grandma give gifts to all.

      1. Love how you all draw names as your family grows. Our children started drawing names several years ago. Does everyone give gifts to you and Steve?

        1. Each family gives each of us a gift or one for both of us. Nathan and Melanie’s family always gives us two wall calendars with family photos and family birthdays and anniversaries on it too. We put one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom.

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