Merry Christmas - #2

On Christmas eve we headed up to Fairmont to spend the next few days with my mom's side of the family.  After stopping at Att's for hot dogs, we headed to my parents place so mom & I could do some last minute shopping for breakfast Christmas morning.  Last year we started a long overdue tradition of having breakfast before we opened presents and I somehow got nominated to be in charge of this.  I don't mind it, it's nice to be able to contribute to the festivities but it does mean a little extra prep work on Christmas Eve.  

So, after a surprisingly easy trip to Walmart (we walked right up to the check out counter - who would imagine it!!) we headed out to my grandparents place for the annual "Family Fun Night".  We used to go to the Christmas eve services at their church, but a few years back they changed churches and the new church's service is at 11pm - far too late for us to participate.  So, we all get together have pizza, punch, peanut butter balls (and all kinds of other Christmas goodies) and play games.  Jenn, JP & Maggie are excused since they spend Christmas Eve with JP's family in Jane Lew, but everyone else's attendance & participation is mandatory.  =)  Our usual game is Apples to Apples so we played a few rounds before calling it a night.  Here's a few pictures from the festivities.

Here is Aunt Reta coming in the room with a larger than usual peanut butter ball. Uncle Wally rolled the balls for her this year and I guess he thought that the bigger they were the less he'd have to roll, so he rolled them extra large.

Here's Grandma, Kayla and Mark - Kayla isn't a huge fan of games, but she played like the good sport she is and I think she may have even had a good time. Here she is playing the judge.

David praying that his card will be picked

Here is Mike going through the options...

Uncle Wally hadn't been picked the winner yet, but it became a long standing joke that he had the card "Snow". About half way through the game, he told us he had the card and at this hand Mike said if snow was tossed down he was going to pick it. Sure enough, Snow was one of the options and Mike picked it. We all laughed heartily, Uncle Wally included.

In a rare "real smile" moment, I happened to capture my grandfathers true smile.

On Christmas morning we all met at my grandparents for breakfast & presents. After a reset of the stove, our yummy boiled omelets were finished and all of us ate together before congregating in the living room together.  Typically my grandfather reads the Christmas story out of Luke, but the last 2 years his vision has made it more difficult for him to do it without stumbling.  This year he just did a brief prayer and was ready to call it a day when my mother who is a stickler for tradition started to recite the story by heart.  With the help of my Aunt they made it through the end of the story by memory with the help of JP giving the last word.  It was fun to listen to them work together to tell us the story of Jesus' birth and the real reason for our gathering together.  

After they finished, we snapped a few pictures of the mound of gifts (aren't we in a recession??) before Liz & Jenn took over as Santa and started to divvy out the gifts.

Liz playing Santa

Mom, Maggie, Mike & his new Wii

JP & his mound of gifts

Maggie with the new toys that mom & grandma made her

Mom & Maggie

After all the presents were open, we watched Jenn open all of Maggie's gifts and watched as the first child in the home in 28 years enjoyed all the treasures bought for her. It was alot of fun and I know my grandparents thoroughly enjoyed their first great-grandbaby's first Christmas. I had the unofficial duty of putting Maggie to sleep and Jenn indulged me to let me hold her while she slept. She's such a sweetie, I really enjoyed my time with her. =) We shared a great meal together then all us kids cleaned up before we all packed up our loot and left.

Friday we had a relaxed day and everyone worked together to get mom's new bedroom furniture that she got for Christmas put together. Then headed back into town that evening and had leftovers for dinner and we got back together that evening to take family portraits. They turned out great...I'll post them later.

Saturday we met dad for lunch at Atts (yes, again) and then spent the afternoon with my grandparents. We headed back Saturday night to Elkins and Dad took us to dinner at the Lodge - definitely the nicest place we've eaten in Elkins. After a filling meal, we headed back to their place and spent time with our kitties who missed us so much, I did a load of laundry and David watched a Christmas Story for the first time holding Dad's Red Rider. Sunday morning we headed back to GA after a wonderful week. We are so blessed to have wonderful family!! Christmas #3 is up next - another update to come soon!