Christmas Traditions

 Christmas traditions are important to me.  That's probably one reason that I have a ridiculous number of Christmas decorations.  Some of them my Grandma Boyle made before I was born, others I remember from my childhood, still more from the time when we had little kids plus so many from our trips. I collect nativity scenes and also try to get a tree ornament at each destination. I love them and find joy each year when I get them out.

Traditions of things that we 'do' are even more important.  During my growing up years, all of my Daddy's family came to our house for Christmas Eve.  First we went to our different churches for a Christmas Eve service and then all my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents came to our house for eggnog and good food.A few years  after I was married the electricity went out during the party.  Unsure what to do with a crowd in a dark house, a new tradition of singing Christmas carols together was born!  Funniest of all, we sang 'The Twelve Days of Christmas" with different people taking each verse.  My Daddy's sister, Maudie, always sang, '3 French hens' and although she could not carry a tune, she was quick to laugh at herself and that just added to the fun. After Maudie passed away, we never sang again because it was just too painful. George and I did renew this tradition when we lived in Spain by inviting all our friends over for food and carol singing on Christmas Eve.  

Our George Lewis family traditions have evolved over the years.  When the kids were little, we acted out the nativity story and also read 'The Polar Express' and of course left out cookies and milk for Santa. 

Our children all have sweet memories of first Grandpa Walt Lewis and now Grandpa George Lewis reciting the Harrison R Merril Poem

'Christmas Eve on the Desert" 

They remember all the years as little children when they didn't understand the poem at all and just felt anxious for the evening to end so Santa could come.  When they were teenagers, the beauty of the poem and the tender sentiments expressed became clear. Now it is a treasured reading every Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning we open gifts one person at a time. I love this because then you get to see the reactions as special gifts are opened.  When it is a free for all, you miss seeing the recipients delight.

Now that we have adult children and grandchildren, traditions have evolved and we seem to have hit upon the perfect mix for this stage of life.

This year I loved listening to 9 year old Isabella anticipate the Christmas traditions.  Her excitement about the games and food made all the work that goes into making this holiday special well worth the time and effort!

Christmas Eve starts with ornament making.  Every year since 2011, we have made ornaments. You can see them on our tree in this photo of Matt and Cady and their cute dogs, Millie and Baby Dog.  The boys do occasionally grumble about 'crafts' but they are good sports and make one each year!

Games are next on the agenda!  From a marshmallow toss to Christmas Tree Cup Stack to mini golf, they are all so fun.  This year we added 'Oregon Trail' and 'Left, Right, Center' to the mix.

Monica won the grand prize for the "Left, Right, Center" game and promptly gave the $24 to Isabella.

Our competitive Isabella really wanted to win the big games competition. (Although the $24 did make her happy too)  She always does want to win any game she plays but this year she really, really did.  Last year Cady suggested that I buy a trophy to pass around to the winner each year.  And I did.

Isabella coveted that trophy.

We had a Christmas miracle.

I won the game competition!

First time ever!

Isabella really did not think this was fair since I bought the trophy!

After all these years, I finally won so I am keeping it for the year.

This might be the only time I ever win.  George had the handicap of a cast on his arm.  Matt was having severe back pain. And Johnny missed the games because he was working.  Scott came in a close 2nd.

This was MY year!

Game traditions!  Ornament making traditions!  And of course food traditions!

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup with sandwich fixings....

And the oh so important to Isabella, chocolate fountain....

Her favorite thing to drizzle with chocolate -  the angel food cake!

I agree!

Christmas morning - It's all about the presents and the food again.

Breakfast pizza and cinnamon rolls!

 I made the comment that since everyone loves these two items so much, I should make them more often.

Interestingly the consensus was that I shouldn't.  They like them being special for Christmas morning.

Before and after breakfast we opened presents.

There were a lot of very thoughtful ones!

Not the most important part of Christmas but still so fun!

By the end of the festivities I felt like I should have been wearing Matt's hat.

But I would need it to say

'Tired but oh so happy!'

Next year we will be enjoying Christmas in Peru and trying to make it special for over 100 missionaries who are also far from home.

I can hardly wait!

But I will really miss all these faces!

Christmas In West Virginia

 I gave Mary a sweatshirt for Christmas that said, "Life is better with my boys".  I think she would agree that Christmas is better with her boys.  Jackson, Mark and the new little foster baby!  The baby's birth mother's parental rights were terminated a few weeks ago so it appears that he will become a permanent part of our family.  I couldn't be happier! Hopefully before too long we can share his cute face on social media.

Poor little guy had RSV for Christmas.  His fever finally broke and the meds helped so I think he did enjoy the excitement.

The Reynolds family has the tradition of going out to eat on Christmas Eve.  I love that these boys have so many Reynolds cousins plus a Nana and aunts and uncles on that side of the family.

Back at home Jackson carefully lined up carrots to lead Santa's reindeer to his house. Pretty smart!

And laid out more carrots and a cookie for the jolly old gentleman himself!

From the looks of their living room, the carrots worked and toys were in abundance!

Jackson is following in his Uncle Johnny's footsteps with a love of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Uncle Johnny even parted with his vintage hat from the 1st Turtle Movie.

That is quite a sacrifice.  Johnny's had that hat since he was 5 years old and went to see the movie - way back in 1990.

"HEROES IN A HALF-SHELL!  TURTLE POWER!"

Mary spends a lot of time playing games with Jackson.

I hope he enjoys the Mousetrap game and that it isn't too frustrating.

Mary reports that Jackson's favorite toy is his racetrack.

It does look amazing and like something he and Daddy will enjoy together.  

When we can't be together for Christmas, I am so thankful for a thoughtful son-in-law and daughter who share lots of photos.  And for Facetime so I can almost feel like I am there.

January Happenings

 Putting all the Christmas decorations out in December is a LOT more fun than taking them all down in January.  Even though I have donated some decorations, I still have a ridiculous amount.  I can't blame it totally on my mother and her love for Christmas. I definitely take some of the credit or blame depending on how you look at it.  It have 33 boxes of decorations.  And I love every single one of them.

When they were all put away I relaxed with a delicious original Dr. Pepper that John and Monica gave me, put my feet up and enjoyed a bit of TV!

Almost every week since November of 2022, I've gone to the Family Search Center to work on scanning our 30 boxes of slides.  It has been a slow and frustrating process.  If the scanner is cooperating (and it hardly ever is) scanning 50 slides takes a bit more than 2 1/2 hours. The carousels average about 120 photos each.  For most of the year they have had 2 scanners so that made it faster.  

The center director was reluctant to tell me that they were getting a new super fast and efficient scanner.  I am just glad they got it before I was finished. 

It scans a slide every 4 seconds and is super easy to operate. 

That's 900 in a hour...well that isn't exactly right because it takes time to put them in and take them out of the carousel....but even 500 an hour is an amazing improvement!

Finishing my last 8 boxes will be a snap!

Pretty impressive huh?

The forecast keeps calling for snow.

And we have gotten a bit.

Saturday night we had several inches and the sun was shining bright on Sunday morning.

And the sky was so blue.

It was magical with the snow sparkling in the sun.

I love it and as always my mantra is

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

Nativity Scene Fun

 When I was a little girl our family lived in Sicily while my Daddy served in the US Navy. I know that they didn't have a lot of money but they still bought a beautiful Italian nativity scene.  I loved to play with it when I was a child.  When my mother eventually gave it to me, she said that I was to allow my children to play with it too.  I think I objected some.  She had raised one little girl who was by nature quite gentle.  I was raising 1 gentle little girl but also 3 rambunctious boys. My mother was adamant that she wanted her grandchildren to be able to enjoy the familiar nativity story characters.  

And they did with some notable additions! Some years we had GI Joes attacking the stable or Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles sleeping by the manager.  Or He Man - Master of the Universe helping the shepherds. In spite of all that, it survived and now Isabella is playing with it.  She is more of a 'gentle' girl.

For some reason she loves putting baby Jesus on the top of the stable. I think that Mary, Joseph and one Wise Man are praying for his safe return.  Last year she told me a long story about 'mean shepherds' who stole the baby.  I guess they are up to their old tricks this year too.

I love that she gave Joseph and the angel baskets. I assume they contain presents for Jesus.

Or maybe their lunch??? I'm not sure.

Every child who comes to our house is fascinated by the Caganar in my typical Catalan nativity scene or 'pessebre'.  And Isabella is no exception!

She put him front and center while normally he is hidden somewhere in the scene.

In Barcelona the decorations often consist of a large model of the city of Bethlehem, more than just the typical manager scene.  At the Christmas market you can buy not only the traditional figures but Roman soldiers, women spinning or baking bread, men working....I was amazed by the variety.  You can also buy trees and shrubbery made of cork.  Hiding somewhere in each scene you will find the caganar. 

Mine is the traditional Catalan man with the senyera or Catalan flag around his chest and a Catalan shepherd's hat on his head.

And just in case you are unsure what he is doing, this view will leave no doubt.

Why you may ask? I've heard lots of explanations but I like the one my Spanish teacher gave me.

She says that it is to show our common humanity.

It doesn't matter if you are the King of Spain or a beggar on the street, this is a part of your life.

Sort of like the children's book, "Everyone Poops".

You can buy Caganar figures from every walk of life.

Politicians to football stars to cartoon characters!

Even our own politicians aren't spared.

I really wish I had bought one of these.

Leo Messi with his Ballon d'Or or his World Cup trophy

An interesting piece of Catalan culture!

I love mine.  I love the memories of going to the Christmas Market by the cathedral with friends and buying from the same two sweet older ladies, then carrying it all home on the metro.  

This is truly one of my treasures.

And if you are wondering the caganar is hiding behind the haystack!

Photography Fun

 Ah...the all important family Christmas photo moment....

Mom figuring out how to use her watch to take a photo

The best one

First 'squishy' attempt

2nd time's the charm!

Wildly excited for Christmas! Just look at all that enthusiasm!

Cady and Matt attempt 'blue steel'..

Serious father-daughter....

Serious couple

Family photos can be fun!

Christmas Day

 After our traditional meal of 'Breakfast pizza', cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate, we started opening presents.

Only food photo was this one of all the 'fixins' for the hot chocolate. Mini chocolate mint chips were a particular favorite this year.

Several of us were the recipients of 'functional art' from Matt's business - Transmigration Woodworking.

Scott got a utility knife, which comes in handy for his work in Portland.

For George who has a dish of ice cream almost every night - an ice cream scoop

And I got one of his high quality pizza cutters.

Cady got a corkscrew and bottle opener.

Aren't they beautiful?  Who knew that skateboards had such nice wood?

Nice jackets, new crocs, a wonderful book, Messi vs Ronaldo - One Rivalry - Two GOATS

Such thoughtful gifts all around! 

Johnny and Monica got a gift card for Cheesecake Factory and a kind offer from me to watch Isabella while they went out to eat.  She was having none of that though, as she LOVES Cheesecake Factory!  You can see how thrilled she was!

The uncles gave our pink loving princess the perfect coat.

And she also got pink roller skates!

And some skating lessons....

Isabella was thrilled when she opened a gift bag to find a new I-phone.  We reuse our gift bags and George had actually gotten ME a new phone but he failed to notice the "To: Isabella - From Grandma and Grandpa" on the other side side of the bag.  She wasn't too disappointed!!!!

I know that presents are not the most important part of Christmas but they surely are fun!