Now Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen! On Barry, Jennifer, Aaron, & Daniel!
Well, it is now three days after Christmas, and we are resting from our whirlwind Christmas tour! It has been a hectic but wonderful week as we gathered and celebrated with family and friends from all over. We've enjoyed some great food, fellowship, and fun as we went home to home. Here's a listing of where all we've been!
A week ago we hosted the Family Christmas Dinner at the Lodge for over 75 members of the Harbin and Haney side of the family. The food was outstanding and laughter rang throughout the building. Santa arrived, and we took family photos again this year. It is a way we can give a present to so many people. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.
Christmas Eve found us doing what I have done every Christmas of my life. Granny & Papa's home was warm and festively lit with candles in the windows. Children raced around the living room, and everyone visited and laughed. Granny & Papa shined, as they really enjoyed this night that is so special to them. They positively glowed as four of their five great-grandsons, two of their three grandchildren, and both daughters filled their home. Bryson, the tiniest one of all, seemed like he couldn't get close enough to Papa. He kept running over and grabbing Papa in a big hug! Paul galloped around after Aaron and Daniel, and had the time of his life being one of the "big boys!" Walt was thrilled with the jar of apple butter that I made earlier that day. He said he had not had homemade apple butter since his grandma used to make it for him. It was yet another priceless Christmas Eve!
Once home, Barry and I set to work to finish the gift we planned to give out at the big breakfast at Tutter and Uncle Bob's house - a DVD of family photos. We finished around 6 AM Christmas morning, and fell into bed to sleep for about an hour or so! Aaron and Daniel excitedly woke us up to tell us that Santa had visited. The poor guy must have gotten tired waiting for us to go to bed! We opened the gifts under our tree, dressed, and headed for the breakfast.
Tutter and Uncle Bob's house was the picture of happy chaos once again. Melanie, Dawn, Dana, and I were the gift assembly line as we passed the presents from the spare bedroom into the eager hands of those around the tree. It was fun to see all the boys with their Hess trucks. Melanie's new stepson was excited to experience his first Christmas with our family. When the din quieted down a little, we brought out the DVDs we were so proud of. Everyone was so happy to have one of their own. I'd love to have been able to see their faces as they watched it later. The kids hunted the pickle on the Christmas tree - a large, obvious one for the littlest kids, and a well-hidden one for the bigger ones. AJ found the big one and Jeremy, Melanie's stepson, found the other one. After everyone else said their goodbyes, we sat down with Tutter and Uncle Bob and watched the DVD. Tutter would get so excited as she recounted who someone was. It was a joy to see them enjoy something so much.
Off to Mama's house we went! Christmas lunch was enjoyed by us, Walt, Mama, and Granny & Papa. Afterward the boys went next door to see Mrs. Margaret and her family. We took our time and enjoyed another part of our precious family.
As evening approached, we jumped back in the Jeep and headed for our next Christmas destination: Bob and Reba's home. The boys bounced in the door and grabbed Grandaddy and Nanny in big Christmas hugs. They had fun playing games with cousin Eddy. Reba put out a nice finger food supper for us all, and then it was time to open our presents. The children all had a blast, and the excitement on their faces was beautiful. Everyone played and visited until close to midnight.
Barry and I slept late the next day. Mr. Cockburn brought us a homemade Jamaican rum cake to the door, and we all hugged like people who had known each other our whole lives. He was delighted that his brother in Canada was shoveling snow and he was not! I think we've made a Southerner out of him! We had a nice family day in preparation for the last stop on our Christmas tour.
Yesterday morning we once again hopped in the Jeep, this time heading for Tennessee. The fog was beautiful heading over the mountains. Anita almost ran out the door to greet us as we pulled in at her house. We all played with her Chihuahuas Petey and Bear. She named Bear after Barry! Everyone opened their gifts, and we spent a nice, relaxing afternoon with her. She made reservations for us at a place there in Dunlap called the Blue Orchid Bistro. It was absolutely delicious! Full and happy we returned to her home to visit a little longer before making the drive back home.
Today has been spent playing and looking at photos of the adventures of the past week. Christmas of 2008 was definitely a blessed Christmas indeed.
A week ago we hosted the Family Christmas Dinner at the Lodge for over 75 members of the Harbin and Haney side of the family. The food was outstanding and laughter rang throughout the building. Santa arrived, and we took family photos again this year. It is a way we can give a present to so many people. Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves.
Christmas Eve found us doing what I have done every Christmas of my life. Granny & Papa's home was warm and festively lit with candles in the windows. Children raced around the living room, and everyone visited and laughed. Granny & Papa shined, as they really enjoyed this night that is so special to them. They positively glowed as four of their five great-grandsons, two of their three grandchildren, and both daughters filled their home. Bryson, the tiniest one of all, seemed like he couldn't get close enough to Papa. He kept running over and grabbing Papa in a big hug! Paul galloped around after Aaron and Daniel, and had the time of his life being one of the "big boys!" Walt was thrilled with the jar of apple butter that I made earlier that day. He said he had not had homemade apple butter since his grandma used to make it for him. It was yet another priceless Christmas Eve!
Once home, Barry and I set to work to finish the gift we planned to give out at the big breakfast at Tutter and Uncle Bob's house - a DVD of family photos. We finished around 6 AM Christmas morning, and fell into bed to sleep for about an hour or so! Aaron and Daniel excitedly woke us up to tell us that Santa had visited. The poor guy must have gotten tired waiting for us to go to bed! We opened the gifts under our tree, dressed, and headed for the breakfast.
Tutter and Uncle Bob's house was the picture of happy chaos once again. Melanie, Dawn, Dana, and I were the gift assembly line as we passed the presents from the spare bedroom into the eager hands of those around the tree. It was fun to see all the boys with their Hess trucks. Melanie's new stepson was excited to experience his first Christmas with our family. When the din quieted down a little, we brought out the DVDs we were so proud of. Everyone was so happy to have one of their own. I'd love to have been able to see their faces as they watched it later. The kids hunted the pickle on the Christmas tree - a large, obvious one for the littlest kids, and a well-hidden one for the bigger ones. AJ found the big one and Jeremy, Melanie's stepson, found the other one. After everyone else said their goodbyes, we sat down with Tutter and Uncle Bob and watched the DVD. Tutter would get so excited as she recounted who someone was. It was a joy to see them enjoy something so much.
Off to Mama's house we went! Christmas lunch was enjoyed by us, Walt, Mama, and Granny & Papa. Afterward the boys went next door to see Mrs. Margaret and her family. We took our time and enjoyed another part of our precious family.
As evening approached, we jumped back in the Jeep and headed for our next Christmas destination: Bob and Reba's home. The boys bounced in the door and grabbed Grandaddy and Nanny in big Christmas hugs. They had fun playing games with cousin Eddy. Reba put out a nice finger food supper for us all, and then it was time to open our presents. The children all had a blast, and the excitement on their faces was beautiful. Everyone played and visited until close to midnight.
Barry and I slept late the next day. Mr. Cockburn brought us a homemade Jamaican rum cake to the door, and we all hugged like people who had known each other our whole lives. He was delighted that his brother in Canada was shoveling snow and he was not! I think we've made a Southerner out of him! We had a nice family day in preparation for the last stop on our Christmas tour.
Yesterday morning we once again hopped in the Jeep, this time heading for Tennessee. The fog was beautiful heading over the mountains. Anita almost ran out the door to greet us as we pulled in at her house. We all played with her Chihuahuas Petey and Bear. She named Bear after Barry! Everyone opened their gifts, and we spent a nice, relaxing afternoon with her. She made reservations for us at a place there in Dunlap called the Blue Orchid Bistro. It was absolutely delicious! Full and happy we returned to her home to visit a little longer before making the drive back home.
Today has been spent playing and looking at photos of the adventures of the past week. Christmas of 2008 was definitely a blessed Christmas indeed.
posted by Jennifer at 4:27 PM
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