Family Christmas

This was the first Christmas where Grandma & Grandpa didn't come down from MN, like they always have. None of dad's siblings came either so we thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Christmas with our immediate family.

Reading the Christmas story


After singing a few songs, daddy announced that it was time to "rehash" the past and get out all our instruments...so amidst the billows of dust and honking we finally got everyone in tune...Caleb "conveniently" forgot his clarinet so he subbed in on the Recorder

Josh and Dan....
(I think Josh wishes he would have taken his trumpet with him so he could have "forgot" to bring it)
Alaina played the flute and mom and Abby sang and we complied a very interesting version of "Silent Night"
The result....Elise says it well: )

The rest of us tried to be optimistic but 2 trumpets, 1 clarinet, 1 flute, a recorder all of which hadn't been played in a long time...

It didn't take long for Elise, in the arms of her Uncle,
to become cheerful once again: )

Then we moved onto the gift opening part of the evening....

Elise loved her new swing

What a wonderful time of year to come together to celebrate Jesus coming into the world!

"For unto us a child is born..."