Bill and I had a little "Charlie Brown" tree in the RV. We didn't exchange presents this year as neither of us needed anything. Also, since moving into the RV we have a rule: If you bring anything in, something has to go out! (Other than food, of course!)
So, new shirt, get rid of an older one. New book, get rid of something of equal weight, etc. Ceilidh was the only one to get a present (and I did get rid of a couple of her older toys-don't tell!!)
Bill has been talking about watching the sun rise on the beach on Christmas morning so that is what we did. We got up early and drove to the beach in drizzling rain but, as you can see, the rain subsided and it was a beautiful sunrise. How I love the beach!
When we returned from the beach, Ceilidh got her present. She loves to rip off the paper. Sometimes she enjoys that more than the present! This year she got a new frog hand puppet. Bill puts it on and she "fights" with it.
Christmas seasons started on Christmas eve at Jon and Jeanette's house. Left to right, Sue, Laura, Jeanette, Barb and Jim in the background on the sofa. We were enjoying a glass of wine.
Sue arrived on Tuesday and her job was to get Mom out of the house Wednesday morning so Bill and Jon could install the new dishwasher we all chipped in to buy her. We waited for her to notice it Wednesday and Thursday morning. Finally Sue lead her out to the kitchen and asked if she noticed anything new. "No" she replied looking around the counters. Finally Sue turned her toward the dishwasher and you can see the surprise on her face as she saw the new dishwasher. This is one of those priceless pictures!
Here's Mom inspecting the pumpkin and pecan pies. She and Bill baked cookies for 3 days. We had tins of cookies everywhere! Shortbread, meltaways, chocolate chip, peanut butter, pizzelles, filled cookies, tassies, I can't think of all the different kinds. They were all good. I know because I tasted at least one of each!
This is little brother, Jon, the practical joker of the family. Last year he completely covered Mom's gift with tape. Not to be outdone, Mom put Jon's gift card between two blocks of wood that Bill screwed together, then covered it with tape! Wonder what Jon will do to top that??
Younger sister, Cyndi and husband George, from the Orlando area.
Older sister. Sue, from our old hometown of Meadville, PA, enjoying a piece of fruitcake. Yes, some of us really DO LIKE fruitcake!
Oldest brother, Jim and daughter Gail. Jim is the bagpiper in the family and lives here in Melbourne. Gail is in her senior year at Flaggler College in St. Augustine. She will graduate this spring with a double major and a minor. We are very proud of her accomplishments!! Way to go, Gail!
We had an unexpected visitor the Friday after Christmas. Mom's third great-grandchild, Nickolas. Nick, the son of Kim Connor, is 7 months old and ALWAYS smiling. What a delightful child he is!
Nick is visiting with his grandparents, brother David and wife Karen from Kansas. Kim lives in Kentucky and Dave and Karen brought him to Florida with them for Christmas.
Yes, that's a dog. At least Cyndi says it is! This is Tommy Lee, a Chinese Crested. He is showing off his new haircut!
While all the siblings were together for the first time in about 8 years, we gathered them in the back yard for a picture. Left to right: Bill, Jon, Sue, David, Mom, Cyndi, and Jim. How fortunate we were to be all together for the Christmas season.
That's mom and proud grandparents, David and Karen with Nick.
Great uncle Bill holding Nick, smiling, as usual. As soon as Nick sees a camera he grins!
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