Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas

and Happy birthday to Jesus,

Thank you for the greatest gift of all.

This year family picture.

Katie having some fun with Santa in a box.

Before we headed over to Dave's parents place, we went to church.  It was our first time going to the Christmas mass at our new church.  We enjoyed the amount of singing that they had as they told the story of our Savior being born.

This was Erin's first time ever going to Christmas Mass.  It was her 4th Christmas in America, but we hadn't found a good church that interprets until this spring.

We spend Christmas Eve day lounging around at home before heading over to Dave's parents house for supper and evening of fun. 

Katie is watching grandpa do one of the mind puzzles. 

He has dementia and probably some Alzheimer's but

he does know how to put together the mind puzzles.

Monika was feeling a little bit under the weather and was snuggling a lot with me.  She took the picture.

Erin helping Grandpa with opening presents.

It was very neat to watch this.  Erin doesn't engage much with Dave's dad.  

When she first came home and met him for the first time, he grabbed her into a hug which she didn't like at all.  With his dementia, he sometimes jokes around with her signing 

(he doesn't know how to sign but will try to act like it).  It used to really bother her, but she 

has gotten a better understanding of him.  She was enjoying her time with him and was smiling and laughing with him.

Christmas day, after having a lazy morning, it was present time.

Dave and I scaled back on gifts and the girls were ok with this.

3 of the girls got 7 inch tablets, that Dave was able to get for a really cheap price

at Walmart on Thanksgiving night

Here is Erin's reaction.

It will be nice for her to be able to talk on a larger picture with her friends vs her ipod.

Katie with her new dress.

Jenny looking at one of the family presents she opened.

Last year I started a new tradition which the girls really like.

I have piece of papers for each of the girls as you can see in the above picture.  Some of the paper has quotes or thoughts about them that I wrote up, some have pick a present (which they reach under the tree and grab a present, it not necessary theirs), or pick a family present (present that more then one person would like the gift or it is a game/movie that we can all enjoy)

Jade got lotion from Jenny

Monika opening her dress.

She wasn't to wild about it, she has

declared about 2 weeks ago that she is pj girl now.

My neice/goddaughter and her boyfriend stopped over.

They live 4 hours away now, so it was nice to see them.

Erin is sporting her new hat.

It was a wonderful two days of celebrating Christmas.  We still have my side of the family to do.

Jenny and I had some alone time tonight and 

there was heavy talking going (another post).

I am grateful that she was able to talk about what she felt

and Praising the Lord that I could find the right words to help her.