Young at hART: December 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas 2013

Another Christmas is over and soon it will be the New Year. Out with the old....Christmas decorations....and in with the new....Resolutions for the new year. I am always anxious to get the decorations down and things put back in order. This was another fabulous Christmas and here are some highlights.

SNOW! We awoke to a nice white covering of snow on Friday, the 20th. It didn't last long, but school was cancelled and lots of snowmen were built before it all melted.

Sunday, the 22nd, Jill and George hosted our extended "Young" family Christmas celebration. I counted 33 of us. Loads of food, fun and fellowship! The highlight was when Uncle Bob dressed up as Santa and handed out gifts to each of the little ones. He purchased the gifts, wrapped them and had the joy of distributing them!

We have our annual gift "grab" with the extended family. All who want to participate bring a wrapped gift and we all draw numbers, select a wrapped gift or steal one that has already been opened. It is a fun tradition and here are a few favorite shots from this event.

Kyle wondering what he will do with this gem of a nutcracker.

Jason noting another Amazon box. Amazon did well this year if you can gauge it from all their boxes we opened!

Here is Robin in her fuzzy hat. She didn't keep it long. Brian stole it from her!

Ben opening his gift with Bob and Josh looking on.

Here are Dave and I with Roger and Jason in the background.

Hostess Jill and Cousin Chip

Christmas Eve golfing at Maplewood with Dave and Dick. We also golfed on Friday (the 27th) with Dave L. and Dick, but it was not as much fun because we got rained on! Winter golf is less expensive and you need to have some warmer duds, but we enjoy ourselves just the same.

We attended the 4 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight service at Highlands Community Church and it was a very meaningful time. Wonderful Christmas hymns and a full choir. The Bantells arrived afterward and we served Chicken Divan for dinner and then gave them a brush-up lesson on playing pinochle in preparation for the annual New Year's Eve Pinochle Party at the Scotts. We've been part of this tradition for about 20 years now. We EAT and eat some more before, during and after pinochle! Lots of food and fun times for the 16 of us who attend.

But back to Christmas. It was so special to have Pete and Shauna host Christmas at their house for our family. Kyle and Kari and kids came down from Bellingham so all our kids and grandkids were there. She cooked a tasty prime rib dinner and we all opened gifts before dinner.