Blue!

I see blue skies!!

After so many days of rain, fog, drizzle, cloudy skies.....BLUE is really, really good!!

Happy New Year! 

We will party with the family tonight. I'm making pulled chicken sandwiches and cole slaw. Lynn is bringing their fryer to make wings, Scott and Marcy are bringing buffalo chicken dip and more. Sounds yummy, doesn't it?!!

Enjoy your day...I hope the sun is shining wherever you are!

Our Christmas

Things are settling down post Holiday. Time to post some pictures!

It was very warm this Christmas. I spent as much time on my porch as I could. Loved it!

This was our 'white' Christmas this year...dense fog!

Peaceful Christmas morning. 

Ellen was pleased with her stocking gifts!

Aidan and Zoe had a great time discovering what was in all those packages!

Precious times. 

Our big family gathering wasn't until 4p. There was time to enjoy the gifts, more food prep, some porch sitting, clean up...before the troops descended upon this place :)

Dinner was the usual....

Chicken Cordon Bleu, ham, sour cream mashed potatoes, baked corn, honey glazed carrots, cranberry salad, fruit salad and lots and lots and lots of cookies! Oh, and Sherbet punch and coffee punch. 

Thankful for enough room to seat everyone together. 

After dinner and cleanup, time for gifts!

The kids love this part!

The adults do too! Ellen was just thrilled with her yellow Jeff Gordon apron!

We exchange names. There is always at least one incredibly funny gift. This year it was a gift from Lynn to Scott. I don't have pictures. We laughed so hard as Scott read each note then opening the gift....there were several. Most of the gifts came from Goodwill and were hilarious. The last one, a gift card, was bolted into a metal box that Lynn put together. Scott had to take it apart with the wrenches from his first gift with a note that he may need them in the near future! So funny! and clever!

Everyone was tired by the end of this wonderful day....bed was a welcome site! 

My closet looked so empty without all the gifts that had been gathering there! (After dropping off a bag of clothes at Goodwill, it will be even more empty!)

Saturday morning I tried do do some cleanup....and found several forgotten items that belonged to kids and grandkids! I decided to drop off the items belonging to Marcy's family since I had to go out anyway. Of course I had to snap pictures of their beautiful tree and fireplace decorations!

The family picture was taken on Christmas Day at the Smith family brunch. 

Sunday was church then to SIL, Nancy's, house for the Fahnestock family all-day Christmas celebration. It's always a great time! I didn't take pictures of the food (an abundance!) or the tables.

 The children always enjoy this part so much....the gifts! Again, I didn't snap many pictures. 

Still a joy to watch! 

The absence of Grandma Fahnestock was keenly felt this Christmas. She always enjoyed being with her family. 

It's cloudy today.....again.....but cooler. I'm so ready to see the sun! Looks like it will be until later in the week before the sun makes it's appearance through those stubborn clouds. 

Happy Monday to you!

It's a Tradition

It's our tradition to give new PJ's on Christmas Eve....

What will it be??

Yay!! New PJ's....a nightgown for Zoe!

Ellen found pink cat pajamas in her box :)

Crazy kids!

Later Gina came home. She found some plaid pajama pants in her box and a shirt that said...Messy hair Don't care :)

Merry Christmas! 

What We've Been Up To

So far this week....

 

Sunday -

Cookie baking time with the Grands!

Brinley and Zoe decorating their sugar cookies. Aidan and Paityn also decorated some but I don't have any pictures of them. 

Brinley's cookies....a little cookie dough and a whole lot of sugar and sprinkles!

Daddy gives her a high 5 :)

Monday -

Ellen and Candie making cookies. They were having a great time!

Monday evening we took a drive to see our favorite Christmas light show. 

The Krasley's Christmas. It's a light show set to music....always so wonderful!

We drove through the square of our hometown, Manheim. I can never get a good picture of the lights. 

We also love this neighborhood street...

So many pretty houses!

Last stop was another favorite property...

Reflection on the pond. I was not getting good pictures with my phone. This property is just gorgeous!

Tuesday evening -

Dale and I babysat Noah while the rest of his family went to see the Star Wars movie. 

He is such an easy baby! 

Wednesday...

Christy's family is here tonight for their Christmas celebration. 

There was lots of food, lots of laughter, lots of talking, lots of children playing :) 

Lots of gifts, too!

(Our poor tree is losing more lights as the weeks progress! Last year for this one.)

Time to open those gifts!

Hubby and I relaxed in the living room :)

It's been a busy week. And a fun week. 

It's also been a cloudy, foggy, drizzly, rainy, warm week. Perfect for me to have a continued headache. Sunshine would help but it's not going to show up anytime soon. What crazy weather for us.  Not complaining because I don't like cold or snow even though it's Christmas. 

Tomorrow I make food for Christmas Day. One gift is to arrive tomorrow....talk about cutting it close!! The house will need a cleaning again. 

The day we have been waiting for is almost here!

A Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Christmas Blessings

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas!

This will be a very busy week at our house. Not sure how often I will be able to post. 

Wishing you good health, restful moments, blessing, peace, and above all...great Joy!

Love,

The Fahnestock Bunch

Pretty Neighborhood

I just love this time of year. Driving at night, not a favorite by any means, is so much better because of Christmas lights. Our neighborhood is very pretty. Many homes along our street are decorated with lights. 

Here is a shot from our front yard.  

This tree is so pretty.

 Taken from my car with my phone...really miss my camera!

I'm watching The Voice....sorta watching. I'm waiting to know the winner. While I wait, I'm drinking hot tea and eating popcorn! Trying to stay awake. I don't know most of the musical guests on the show and am not all that interested in the little pieces they have been doing showing the contestants talking about their experiences. Trying to stay awake....

Ok, here we go....and the winner is....

Jordan Smith! Yes!!!! 

If you didn't hear him sing, Mary Did you Know, last evening, listen to it on YouTube. Go ahead click on all his songs, he is amazing!

I'll leave you with this picture taken this morning. This baby boy just melts me!

So in love!

Wrapping, Wrapping

Still a few more gifts to buy....waiting for a few gifts to be delivered.....so I can finish putting things together and get 'em wrapped :)

I set up my gift wrapping station -

On my bed!! A turned over game board provides a sturdy base for wrapping. It also makes it easier to get rid of the ribbon glitter when using the board....I learned that tidbit the hard way! It's working for me.

This shoe storage bench is holding supplies....my shoes are not getting put away just now! 

Little by little....

We get one small gift for each grandchild, our children and their spouses. We also do a gift exchange among the adults.... thats an additional gift and makes our time together so much fun. The grandchildren decided to do a gift exchange among themselves this year also. So, it's not a lot....but enough, especially with a rather large family!

Merry Christmas to you! 

(Can you believe how close Christmas Day is??)

A Show and a Carson

First, a Show -

Yesterday Ellen knew she was going to a birthday party for her friend, Marissa. What she didn't know was where we were going to begin the celebration. 

On the way to Marissa's house, she told me to make the surprise good :) Oh, it was going to be good!

We traveled into the city of Lancaster.

To see the show,

Elf!

 at the Fulton Opera House.

Ellen, Marissa, and Bri are excited!

We waited for the rest of our group then found our seats. 

Anticipation! 

A row of girls and a row of moms :)

We loved the show! We laughed a lot....Ellen thought Marge, me, and Terry (in that order) were the loudest laughers of the moms...

And she and Emily the loudest of the girls!

After the show we went back to Marissa's house to party. 

Marissa greets Kelly and Nicole by taking their picture, as they arrive. 

We ate pizza and salad then it was time for cake!

Marissa is 22! We sing, she blows out the candles, the girls cheer and clap...Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Time for gifts! 

We had such a good time. Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you, Marissa!

A Carson - 

It was my Sunday to staff the church nursery this morning. We have lots of little ones at our church (for a small church) but nursery care during the worship service is optional. Many kids stay with their parents and that's just fine. Today it was just me and our Grandson, Carson, until the last little bit. What fun I had playing with Carson, just the two of us!

We played with these stacking cups a lot. 

It was great fun to stack them then knock them down! 

Over and over and over again!

He is the sweetest child. Let's do it again, Carson... That ok with you?