~2010~

Here is my wackadoodle family ringing in the New Year as only we know how. This was taken in our suite on our 30th Anniversary cruise last year...good times~! and here's to a grrrrrrreat 2010~!

~31~

Happy Anniversary to Us~! =)

~Jammies~

Another Christmas tradition in our family is to get new jammies on Christmas Eve. Meg & Jim have been receiving their jammies in the same Nordstrom box for about 15 years~! And even now that the kids are both married...this tradition continues (for some reason the drop shadows were not working on this layout but you get the idea)

~Trimmings~

Jeff decided to tryout his new garden clippers to “trim” their Christmas tree. Can’t you just hear Meg saying…JEFFREY what the heck?!? =)

~Immanuel~

Even tho I find the saying rather trite...Jesus IS the reason for the season~!

~Santa~

Long gone are the days when we would go to breakfast with Santa...but I LOVE this photo of Jim meeting Santa for the first time...makes me wonder just what he is thinking...but then that is what Christmas is about...the joy and the wonder =)

~Tradition~

One of our family Christmas traditions is to put up a Nativity crèche. Since Meg was two years old, this has always been her responsibility. At first I thought she looked at it as a special doll’s house that came out only once a year. Then I noticed how lovingly and carefully she placed each figurine in its own special place in the manger. And when she got to the Baby Jesus figurine, she would always kiss him and say “Thank you Baby Jesus for being born.” This is a precious family tradition that has continued on for her for 26 years.

~Cookies~

The most looked forward to Christmas tradition is decorating sugar cookies with Grandmama. The kids have been doing this ever since Meg was 2 years old...it's always a time of sprinkles and frosting flying everywhere along with lots of love and laughter~

~Nutcracker~

Another Christmas tradition of our was to go see Meg perform in The Nutcracker...gotta say that is one I REALLY miss~! Watching Meg dance is just awe inspiring and breathtaking to me. Here is a little bit of her Nutcracker history...from having a minor role as a bonbon in Mother Ginger to dancing the lead as the Sugar Plum Fairy...Nutcracker SWEET~!

~HoHo~

One of our many family traditions at Christmas time is getting a picture by our Christmas tree. Here are Meg and Jim waaaaaaaaaay back in 1986...they haven't changed a bit huh? =)

~Presents~

Talk about ghosts of Christmas past =) Here are Todd and I surrounded by our presents on Christmas morning waaaaaaaaaay back in 1956. The thing I love most about the photo is the tinsel on the tree...mom LOVES tinsel =)

~Cookies~

My girl Krystal has a new kit...love it~! and I love this photo of Jim leaving cookies and milk for Santa...well of course the milk is now spiked eggnog but the sentiment is the same~! =)

~Signs~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~!! sing along with me =) All the decorations are up and the house looks soooooooooo festive. I love this time of year where everywhere I look brings back a precious memory. I love the sights and sounds of this season~!

~12th~

~11th~

~10th~

~9th~

~8th~

~7th~

~6th~

~5th~

~4th~

~3rd~

~2nd~

~1st~