Christmas Greetings

I've done a Christmas photo shoot with the grandkids every year since 2011 that I've shared on Facebook. I thought this year I'd see if I could get the Photobucket slideshow to work here. There are 50 pictures...

Merry Christmas

&

Blessings for the New Year!

Christmas 2012

The weather turned cold just in time for Christmas. There was a light dusting of snow in the early morning hours, but not enough to bother taking a picture. The main concern, the roads. Conditions were still good for mom to be able to drive out. She was going to bring my brother with her, but he was still too sick today and didn't want to spread whatever it is that he has to everyone else.

Food is always abundant at our family gatherings. We have decided to forgo the sit-down meal at Christmas and reserve that for Thanksgiving. The kids are just fine with snacks galore.

Front and center are cream puffs and directly behind it are rice krispy treats my daughter made.

A little different angle. My focus doesn't seem to working as well at it tells me it is.

From the other end of the island is the tub of deviled eggs, two layers, and in the center are ham & turkey roll ups.

This one is a bit blurry but I wanted to show the plate of pretzel Rolo snacks. Some are two pretzels and some are one with an almond. The divided dish has three different kinds of Kisses, nuts, and some other candy.

Back to the other end we had salami, cheese, and crackers. The red bowl is full of string cheese for the kids to snack on. 

The "meats" - pizza rolls, shrimp, chicken nuggets, mini pigs in a blanket, and smokies in BBQ sauce.

Chips, cheese dips, and bread sticks with cheese in them. The three cheese dips are with cheddar and salsa (the children's 'original'), bean and cheese, and cheese with ro-tel (Dillons brand). 

Sitting down to eat with beautiful red tree glowing brightly.

Looks like they all found plenty they liked.

The adult's table before everyone has been seated.

After everyone had MORE than enough to eat, it was time to open presents.

The K-Monster handed the presents out. Not nearly as many packages under the tree as in years past. The children have all grown and are happier with gifts of money that they can pool together to purchase larger items. With everything that there is to be bought it is difficult to know what to buy for anyone.

Waiting patiently.

Pretty Christmas gift bags.

One for you....

...and one for you.

My daughter hands out our envelopes for us, trying to convince them that they should just let her keep them. The weren't convinced.

K-Monster's new shirt.

A big box of puzzles that will be handed out for the kids to put together.

All the gifts were gathered up, wrapping and packaging to the trash. The two granddaughters went home with my mom, their Great-grandmother, for a few days. Several of us sat down to a game of progressive rummy while the others either watched on or went to enjoy their gifts. It was a wonderful family time.

I hope you and yours made some good memories this Christmas also. Our hearts & prayers go out to all who are lonely and/or suffering. May we all be Blessed in the coming New Year!

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

2013

Merry Christmas!

I got my little Christmas tree down from the attic and set up. It's still as pretty as ever, don't you think?
I put my singing and dancing tree, penguins and snowman under the tree along with the presents. When you have a small tree, you need small presents.

Because my daughter works on Christmas this year we all gathered at her house on Christmas Eve day.

With all the presents placed under the tree the children entertained themselves playing video games.

No Christmas meal, just loads of snacks, finger foods. I brought over my new smoothie maker and ingredients like bananas, creamer and other fruit. My brother supplied the Baileys.

First we snacked and the kids continued to play.

Then we opened presents.

Do you see K-monster with his hands full of the little boxes? The Princess is opening hers. The hand show the bling from the little boxes. Jewelry they were ALL happy to receive. Definitely one size fits all. Then after the unwrapping it was back to playing.

The menfolk spent most of their time back out of the way, out from under foot.

Another Merry Christmas for the KS Born bunch. Hope You and Yours enjoyed the same!

A Proper Thank You

Back in July of last year a Princess Tea was held in honor of The Princess's birthday. When their Majesties, King Allen and Queen Christine, received The Princess, His Majesty the King presented her with a gift. She did not know at the time but this gift contained Thank You notes. Among the many lessons that were taught that day she also learned about giving a proper "Thank You" to show appreciation to those who honor you with their good will and generosity. That is why yesterday before the girls went home they helped me design Thank You notes for them to send to those they received Christmas gifts from.
I am very proud of how they eagerly took to their task, writing their own feelings of love and gratitude in each card. Well done my little princesses, well done.

Christmas With Family 2009

For our Christmas gathering we decided to have snack foods instead of a sit down dinner type of meal. This being said, there was no shortage of food. I provided the sandwiches in the background (recipes in previous posts) and the cheese quesadilla wedges on the front platter with the two Tex Mex's in the middle.
Lots of finger food that the kids love to eat.

Below in the slow cookers are cheese sauce in the little one and little smokies in sauce in the big one. The silver bowl holds little hamburger rolls and under the foil are larger ones prepared by another family member.

Then there were deserts that didn't get touched till people were getting ready to leave.

For just having snack foods... everyone got their fill.

The Christmas tree had presents stacked all around it.

All the way down the wall and round the corner.

Hey! K-Monster! What's under there?

We lined the kids up in the living room and started handing out presents.

What? One for me? I can't take pictures and open presents.

Careful, don't trip with the big package.

They've only just begun, you can still see the rug.

Poor Boog dog. He had the cutest Christmas outfit. Earlier he had bells on his legs.

My brother's three grandchildren arrived and more presents came out.

The Nerf of this season was Nerf swords. This year was a little too cold for them to all go out and play afterward. The younger boys did have some mild Nerf gun wars back in the bedrooms though.

All the packages and wrapping was gathered and moved out of the way for a second round of presents. This was "the Big Present" or "Family Present". My daughter's boys each had a big present and my son's children had a family present in several packages.

Looks to me like they were all pleased with the 'big' gifts. The eldest grandson received his own personal desktop computer with flat screen monitor. The son's children received a Wii and attachments.
K-Monster received Guitar Hero's "the Beatles Rockband"... All were happy campers.
I hope you and yours had a Very Merry Christmas !

Merry Christmas 2009