Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

 I am very late posting these pictures from our Christmas Eve celebration; so late that I don't remember details to write about, so this will be a picture essay of Christmas Eve (with a couple of pictures from Christmas morning).

I think the whole family looks forward to getting together on Christmas Eve, but it's especially magical for the children.  They love being together; anticipating the traditions that we repeat each year.  The best and most important tradition is our reenactment of the Nativity.  Crista has taken on the role of being in charge for this wonderful presentation.  This year she even wrote a script.  

Our stars: Yuna as Mary, Ollie as Joseph, and Finn as the donkey.



Crista directing the play with Todd, Avie, Jordan and Jieun in the background; Bridget, Cam, Sara and Nick

Our wise men were beautiful and at least two of  them sported long hair with their beards.  This is Ori.

The animals: Camden, Yuli (duck and cow);  Dojin; (I thought he was a lamb, but he said he was a bunny).




Wise man Effie and Shepherd Ila;  Bridget in character as a lamb.


The cast: Ila, Avie, Ollie, Ruby, Ori, Yuna, 2nd row: Greta (wiseman), Yuli, Finn, Cub, Bridget, Todd and Camden

Avie, the little angel.

After the Nativity, the cousins exchanged presents.  Yuli, Bridget and Avie all got some fun girly stickers and chapsticks from their Jackson cousins.  Ollie also got some sports thing from the Jacksons.  I didn't take pictures of all the children opening their gifts, but I'm sure someone did.  This will suffice for this letter.




Since I am writing this letter from the other side of the world--the Tasman Sea to be exact--I can't post videos, but I have a great one of the Jackson kids opening their harmonicas (given to the kids by Santa at the Green hosted Santa party);  they obviously loved them.  Elise thought it was payback from her childhood, until she realized they weren't from Roy and me.  

The dinner (which actually came before all the other festivities):


The kitchen table can fit all of the adults, the kids are in the dining room and at some small tables in between.


Cub, enjoying dessert (and destroying his shirt); and at right: all clean and enjoying grandma
 (or the other way around).

Christmas Morning

Thankfully, we didn't have to spend Christmas morning alone.  Christmas is not the same without children and we love having Crista and Matt share it with us.  It's convenient for them since they head down to Mapleton Christmas afternoon to spend time with the Vance family.  It was fun to watch them and share in their excitement.
Ruby couldn't contain her screams of excitement 


Todd received a spider man costume!  This is the five children with their gift from Sana (Ruby, Todd, Bridget, Greta and Zack.  These kids get a gift from Santa, then "something they want, something they need, something to do and something to read."  



The Jacksons celebrated their Christmas a day early.  Andy volunteered to work Christmas so he could have spring break with the kids.  Unfortunately, the best laid plans don't always work out.  Elise was devastated to find that Andy will be deployed right before spring break begins.  We know where he's going, but I'm not sure I should post it online, even though I think only my family reads this blog.  Originally they were told it would be for nine months, but it turned out to be about 6 when they received the orders.  It's disappointing to all of us because we are doing Aspen Grove this year and now he can't make it.  When the family gets to be the size of our family, there will be occasional interruptions in plans.  


Crista and Zack

We enjoyed a Korean dinner with Dan and Jieun's family the night before Roy and I left for New Zealand.  

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