Christmas 2013 Smiles

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas filled with love and smiles.

I came down with a bad chest cold and cough on Christmas Eve. but I didn’t let that spoil our Christmas. I still have lots of smiles to share with you.

Actually, our Christmas smiles started on  Nov. 31st when  family helped us put up our trees.

We divided up all the gifts to be sent home with our Utah family. I always try to have their gifts bought and wrapped by Thanksgiving so I don’t have to mail them.  That makes me smile.

Jan had a few good days and we made the most of them. We had a nice lunch out one day and we watched a movie another day while she helped me put together goodie buckets for friends and neighbors. Being with Jan makes me smile.

Of course I love setting Christmas tables and…..

…. feeding friends and family good holiday meals… smile… smile

I also enjoy making Christmas goodies and going to parties with my hubby. Christmas really is a magical time.

Before I knew it, Christmas eve was here. That morning we went out to breakfast with Claire and Austin. I’m told it is OK to have milk shakes with your breakfast on Christmas Eve…. smile….smile…

We spent the day delivering Christmas goodies to friends and Claire sang for them. That evening we went to Mindy’s for dinner.

Mindy always goes all out for our delicious Christmas Eve dinner which….

…. makes us all smile.

After dinner….

… the children put on a Christmas concert for us and we read the Christmas story from Luke 2. It never ceases to amaze me that our Lord and Savior came to earth to live and die for us. It was a perfect Christmas Eve. My heart was filled with love and smiles for our family and our dear Savior.

We took a few more pictures before ….

…getting on our jammies and putting out cookies for Santa.

Grampy couldn’t even wait to get on his jammies to settle down for his long winter’s nap. I love Christmas Eve even more than Christmas. I love listening to the Carols and looking at the gifts and tree.  I love the anticipation of loved ones opening their gifts. I always wish Christmas eve could last forever……

…but before we knew it morning was there and Santa had come.

After opening gifts  with “oohs and ahhhs” and smiles….

I made our Christmas brunch….

… Which was enjoyed by all of us. We spent most of the day playing games and visiting.  Except for me catching a “cold bug” it was a perfect Christmas.  My heart was full of thankfulness and gratitude.

I had been feeling pretty rotten  since early Tuesday morning but I wasn’t going to let it spoil our celebration. I just kept on going until after making Christmas breakfast and then I gave in and admitted that I was sick. I’ve been down pretty much the rest of the week. The sad thing is John thinks we shouldn’t go to Utah as planned to have a 2nd Christmas there and spend New Year’s Eve with our Utah family. He is worried because the cold has gone to my chest…. and…. we could not find a sub to work for us at the temple.  For these 2 reasons we are staying home.  I am disappointed but I think it is for the best.

I can’t complain….. as you can see I’ve had a wonderful Christmas season for which I am very thankful. I hope that your Christmas was full of smiles and thankfulness too.    Many hugs, Grammy Lura