Monday, January 5, 2015

One Long Christmas Holiday!

Happy New Year to all of you!

Goodness, that was a very long December. So long...I've posted photos to prove it :-)
Thankful for a new month in a new year.
Christmas Eve was quiet. Bob, Khloe and I attended a beautiful Christmas Eve service at Church, followed by an early dinner of lasagna and warm bread...with two of the kids and two of the Grands. Khloe and Ellery got to check out their stocking stuffers...Namaw felt they should open something!

 Sweet Bean's posing with her Beep tree....now known as birds :-)

Pa and Bean's heading to church.


Namaw and the Sweet Beans

Happy to be in the big Church!






Christmas Day at my eldest son Mike and wife Katie's home.  We had a wonderful time with Mike, Katie and kids, Katie's family, my son Brian and girlfriend Brittany, and Mike and Brian's Dad and his wife.  Enjoyed a lovely dinner, lots of conversation and lots of gifts....for the kiddos!  Always a day we look forward to.

Ellery Grace...she was happy sitting in her new chair....



Love this of Khloe and her Auntie

Son Brian, Brittany and Ellery with her new hat :-)

DIL Katie....she and Mike make it such a great day!

The morning after Christmas we drove north about an hour an 15 minutes to pick up our oldest grand daughters Julia and Aubrie. We traditionally head to Coronado Island, tour the Hotel Del to see the Christmas decorations, dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, a short walk to our favorite spot for hot chocolate on a very cold winters eve, wrapping our evening up with The Festival of Christmas for a fabulous play. Our seats were second row center stage and the play was awesome.  We enjoy every second with these beautiful girls.  They truly are so well behaved, and well mannered young ladies.  We just beam with pride when it comes to how they have grown...kudos to daughter Jackie and hubby Ev on a job well done!




Pa, Aubrie, Julia and myself....happy old people......


Traditional photo on the bench while we await our table....


Hotel Del


Aubrie and Julia



Tradition that they pick out a new glass turtle every year.  Aubrie named this one Coronado :-)





The twenty seventh, Jackie, Ev and Grandson Gavin caravan-ed down with our son Joseph and his wife Angel and our two grandson's Dominic and Calib. We celebrated Christmas again with them. Mike and Katie joined us with Khloe and Ellery. First time in four years we had all seven grands in one spot...Can you believe I didn't get a photo of all 7 together??  Uggh! the most in a photo is five ;-(


Dominic and Ellery


Oldest Julia with youngest Ellery

Aunt Jackie and Ellery

Son Mike (posing) DIL Katie

Son, Uncle Joseph meets Ellery for the first time. Juila in background Calib on right.

Calib and Khloe bonded as cousins :-)

Ellery and Julia

She's a cute little gift!


Grandson Gavin with Daddy Ev.

Katie and Calib

Aubrie, Khloe and Calib

Gavin, Ellery and Dominic

Joseph, Angel and the boys stayed with us for five nights....lots of time to get reunited with those young boys! We are thankful we had that opportunity to do so, thankful for the miracle of Joseph  and for his wife Angel.  All have had a very long past eleven months to say the least.  Hats off to Angel who has just totally amazed me at all she does in a 24 hour period!! She is amazing and I can tell you I will pray for her to have energy to carry on each and every day. Joseph has a long road ahead and prayers are always appreciated!!
Son Joseph, DIL Angel, Dominic and Calib :-)

 I still thank God and all who prayed every time I see a photo of Joseph, thankful for his life is and understatement. He looks great!


January 2nd we were once again two under one roof.  We managed to deconstruct the Christmas decor and pack it away for another year. I found myself thinking I need to thin out the decor, it's just become an exhausting thing....I want it to return to simple ......and focus on family more.

Looking forward to a new year of blessings, we are indeed so blessed by our friends and family...that includes each of my blog readers. Striving to be a blessing to others this year!
It's what echos from my heart in the new year.....


9 comments:

  1. Those are really great pics. I enjoy your posts so much and I think it's wonderful that you were able to spend so much time with your grandkids and all of the family for the holidays. Blessings to you... :)

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  2. Happy New Year! Your grandchildren are precious!

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  3. Wow, you did have some busy holidays and lots and lots of family. I don't ever remember seeing a picture of Joseph before but he sure does look good in these. Such a good looking family. And, yes, returning to "two under the roof" is sweet peace after all the excitement of the holidays. Happy new year!

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  4. Joseph looks great! So good to see him and his family. You have such gorgeous and obviously sweet grands!

    I love the Del Coronado Hotel and go every time I am in California (haven't been in 5 years!) ...have they replaced the carpet on the stairs? It was very flowery last time I was there!

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  5. Well it certainly looks like you had a wonderful Christmas FULL of family and good times. Where do you go to a play down there? I am always looking for something new and fun to do with some of the oldest grands during the Christmas season. Joseph looks just great, and I have no doubt how that must warm your heart. Happy new year to you all!

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  6. Beautiful family, Debi; the grandchildren, the older adults and SO happy to see Joseph looking well. You say he has more ahead of him, and I'll keep him in my prayers just as I am with your shoulder.

    LOVE all the pics - you can't show me too many!

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  7. And, me again, thank you for the beautiful friendship.
    We may never meet in person, but we can be sisters of the heart.
    Much love to you.

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  8. I love all the photos of family. That's what Christmas is all about!

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  9. Look at all the family fun! What the season should be about.
    ALL THOSE GIFTS!! I thought the baby was just another gift for someone in there :) haha

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