Sunday, December 30, 2012

Christmas Brunch and Church Decorations

December was such a busy month. Posting pictures was just not happening. I'm catching up, I suppose.

December 1, 2012 - Women of Hope Christmas Brunch at Immanuel Christian Fellowship


I had nothing to do with these lovely tables...
Charlotte put this together =)
 (she is at the sink, can see her just to the right of flower arrangement)
 
I did put up the bows on the cabinets.
 
Love seeing these ladies enjoying themselves!
 
And these ladies too!
 

These girls decided to sit at a table all by themselves.
They had a great time!
So cute, aren't they?!
 
This is the only person I got a picture of at this table!
Sweet Zoe =)
 
 
The table decorations....
 
Red and White table
 
The Music table
 
Old Fashioned Christmas table
 
 
Green and Gold table
Unfortunately, this table is unfinished.
Time got away...
I never made it to Christy's to get her bronze balls....
She brought them that morning....
but they never made it to the table.
OH, WELL....
Some things are just not that important!
 
 
We played a gift exchange game.
Sherri led a devotional on the theme - Joy.
And some participated in a craft.
 
Being creative, making Christmas ornaments.
 
 
Church Decorations -
 
Bulletin board
 
On the table under the bulletin board....
There is another tray with a green beaded tree on the other side
 and a Nativity in the middle.
The table gets messy...I should have taken the picture as soon as I put it together!
 
 
 
Christmas trees and the Nativity
placed at the front of the church.
The little children love to play with the people and animals.
Zoe loves baby Jesus!
 
 
Child's chair....
 (mine. we bought it at an auction of a former landlord. It's been in my attic for most of the years we've had it because I wanted to preserve the paint detail on the chair. He was a wonderful painter.)
holding a wicker covered gallon jar. Dale's Mother did the basket weaving....
In the jar are greens and branches from one of the lilac bushes we have....
branches holding gold flecked pine cones and tags with meaningful words -
Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Joy, King of Kings.....
The wicker basket was my Mother's.
It's holding books for the children, all Christmas related.
I kinda liked this little corner!
 
 
Window decorations.
It's gotten bumped a few times, I see.
(pardon the crookedness!)
 
 
So soon the season comes to an end. I began putting the decorations away after the service today. I'll have to get back to the church one day this week to take down the rest. It feels rather sad! I just love Christmas!
 
 
And then, it will be time to put away the Christmas decorations at home. I will do it but I won't be ready for it!
 
Blessings, my friends!
 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas Programs

What would the Christmas season be with out a program or two? We were blessed two times this year!

Aidan's pre-school gave a wonderful program at the church where they meet. Zoe didn't participate because the 2 year old class didn't take part....but, did she ever want to!!

Photos aren't the best....they were taken with my phone.

We give presents, we give presents
to our family
on Christmas Day.
 
Oh my, so much cuteness!!
 
Did you hear Zoe ask if I'm taking a picture?



Can you see Aidan?

Program over...
proud little guy =)
Notice Zoe waving as he goes by.

Zoe watches her brother walk out.
 

Mommy says,
Good job, Aidan!

Time for snacks!
 
Aidan loves cookies!
 
 
 
There was also a program at church given by the children. They did a wonderful job!
 
 
 
 
The last song was sung by the whole congregation -
Come On, Ring those bells. Light the Christmas Tree.....
Bells were given to ring while singing.
Zoe got her chance to be up front....
She loved that!!
 
 
 
I have two videos to share just as soon as I can figure out how to get them off my camera.
 One is a song which Paityn and another girl sing together.
 The other is Zoe ringing those bells!
Both are sooooo cute!
 
Pretty Paityn enjoying some Birthday Cake for Jesus
after the service.

Zoe loves a snack too =)
 
 
 
One more picture to share.
 
This is December 28, 1973 -
 
 

Yes, 39 years ago we became Mr. and Mrs.
 
He turned 20 the day before the big day.
She was still 19.
 
Kids, we were!
 
Just two that day.
Now there is...
 
Kimberly married to Manny. Grandson Andrew and step-granddaughter Laurencia
Marcy married to Scott. Granddaughters Paityn and Brinley
Corey married to Christy. Grandson Aidan and granddaughter Zoe
Greta married to Lynn
Gina
Ellen
 
We are a bunch and we LOVE it that way!
 
Blessings to you, my readers, today!
It's snowing in PA today. Third time this week!
 
 
 

 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

It was a Merry One - part 2

After we opened our gifts, it was time to clean up and prepare for the next event.

We opened the table as far as it would go.

14 at this table
and
3 at the small plastic picnic table
we brought in for Aidan, Paityn and Zoe to sit at.

 
Our menu is almost always the same -
 
Martin's Rolls with butter and strawberry and blackberry jam
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ham (added this year)
Baked Corn
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Deviled Eggs
Cranberry Salad
Fruit Salad
Lots and Lots and Lots of Cookies
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Clusters (added this year)
Sherbet Punch
 
 
I lit the candles.....
 
 

 
 
 
And we waited to the troops to arrive Home =)
They came.
We gathered around the table.
 

Scott, always the funny guy =)
 
We laugh a lot!!
 
I didn't get a pic of the 'kids table'.
I think they enjoyed eating at their own space!
 
 
After eating, we must clear the table,
 put it back to the usual size and push it to the end of the room.
(here's hoping we have a house next Christmas where there is enough room
to eat in one space and gather for gifts in another space)
 
My sister Mary Ellen came to join us after dinner
She had spent the day at our nephew's home..
I'll throw in a few pictures she took...
she got some shots I didn't.
 
Looks like there's some fun happening here!
 
 
Aunt Nancy shows Zoe some pictures while waiting for gift time.
Grandma watches all the activity.
 
 
Brinley gets to open the first gift.
It's a giraffe riding toy from Nana and Pop Pop
 
(M. E. pic)
 
 
Zoe's turn!
(I never got to fixing the rip in the paper)
 
Nana, will you help me get it out of this box?
 
 
Zoe loves her baby bed and the baby.
She's already rocking the baby!
 

Aidan's turn!
He sees an Angry Bird....
 
 
Angry Bird game!
 
 
And slippers in the other gift.
 
 
Paityn finds a Barbie doll storage case in her big box.
 
 
Paityn and Zoe check out all the compartments.
 
 
Andrew found a Texas Longhorn's
T-shirt and lounge pants in his gift.
Nana said,
check the pocket...
 
 
He checked
and promptly put the $$ in his pocket =)
 
 
Brinley says,
We're not done yet!
 
 
Zoe models her new Princess duds =)
Gina gave her the dress and the rest came from others....
not sure who.
(M.E. pic)
 

Aidan and Paityn wrapped in their blankets...
again, not sure who gave them!
It's a zoo around here on Christmas Day =)
(M. E. pic)
 
 
The kids exchanged names. I didn't get many pictures of those gifts.
 
Gina had Ellen's name.
Gina bought her this dress.
(M. E. pic)
 
 
Kim had Gina's name
She got what she asked for plus another gift card for Starbucks!
 
 
Oh no, Scott had Lynn's name.
We know it's not just a wrapped item...
Scott would never do something that simple!
 
 
 
There were small gifts
 
each with a number.
He had to open them in order.
First one was a cookie....
made with all his 'favorite' ingredients!
All his least favorite, that is.....belly laughs galore!
The last one was an Amazon gift card.
Yeah, Scott!
 
Lynn and Greta had Corey and Christy's names
They got them a combined gift...
a gift card to Lily's on Main,
where Corey and Christy became engaged!

And, the gift included an offer to babysit....
Christy tells Aidan about that.
Aidan looks mighty pleased!
 
Kim got a sweater and scarf from Christy.
 
 
After all the gift giving
we had our 3rd annual
Now you Have it,
Now you Don't game.
 
What a crazy time we had!
 
I didn't get any pictures because I was calling numbers.
Poor Andrew thought he wasn't going to have his third number called...
it was the very last one!
 
Some of the gifts were so funny.
Look what I ended up with....
 
From Greta and Lynn!!!
I fell for their's last year too!
 
Paityn got an UNO game from Gina and really wanted to play it.
 
Fun!
 
 
That was our day....it was so special. But, was I ever a tired Mama when it was all over!! My bed felt pretty good that night.
 
The sun is shining today. It's still windy but not as cold. Today is Hubs birthday. He's taking some vacation days so he's working at home. Constantly repairing, fixing what has been waiting to be repaired. We hope to go to Ollies to look for carpet for a bedroom, then go to Outback for dinner. I bought gift cards from there to give the guys in our family...... and Outback gave us a $20 card because we did. Wasn't that nice of them?
 
Long post....congrats if you made it to the end =)
 
Blessings!