For Christmas this year I suprised Joel with a trip away to Gettysburg. It had been 12 years since we were there last. It was very cold and windy, but we enjoyed our time alone. This is the view from Little Round Top. We had to end our tour here because it was getting late and we needed to return to pick up our children. We both really enjoyed the newer museum and cyclorama exhibit. We really enjoyed eating at the Dobbin House, in the tavern. It was very cozy with the fireplace and candles. 
Our hostess was sick on New Year's Eve, so we ended up staying home. We had fun having our own little cocktail party. Rachael and Jeremiah came to the market with me to pick out these treats: steamed shrimp, mini eggrolls, apples, cheese, crackers and summer sausage, smiley fries, and homemade pigs in the blanket. One of the littler ones said, "We have to do New Year's all alone?" No, I don't think a party of nine is all alone. Joel and I had fun watching a movie with them after our dinner party and dreaming ahead to fun, game filled parties when our crew is a bit older. We are an instant party!! Everyone but Joel went to bed before midnight. I woke up because of the fireworks (someone nearby has some great fireworks, probably illegal, but very beautiful anyway) and ended up watching a battle scene with Joel (he was rewatching the Gettysburg movie) before going back to bed. HappyNew Year Everyone!
Back to Christmas...Rachael was excited to get a cash register. She really wanted one, and she loves to play store with her little brothers. All the children got some type of sled, except Asher and they were pretty thrilled to be able to use them already. Other favorites were spy watches for all the bigger children, Cars garage, playmat and vehicles, Army men, and Star Wars helmets.
Baby Luke's first Christmas. He loved his monkey toy. There are chewy rubber parts on it to teethe on, and crinkly parts that are fun for him to squeeze. He also got a few cute baby toys from each set of grandparents. And new Christmas jammies (the blue ones he has on in the picture) from my mom. Nothing better than celebrating Christmas with a new baby. Watching their eyes light up at the lights on the tree. Remembering our Saviour was a little baby once too.
Stocking inspection. Orange in the toe, Hershey kisses, new gloves, bubble gum and reece cups!! Yummy. We enjoyed non-homemade cinammon buns and coffee with my parents as we watched the children open up their gifts. We then traveled up to Joel's parents' home to celebrate with his entire family. What fun. We found out Joel's parents will be Great-grandparenst this summer as our niece Lauren and her husband are expecting their first baby!! Yay. Joel doesn't feel old enough to have a Grandpa brother though!! After a delicious Italian dinner (complete with non cheese items for Asher and I) and sampling some of the 10 or so varieties of cookies Mom M. made, we traveled home, arriving near midnight with a van full of sleepy, sugar crusted, satisfied children. What a merry Christmas we had once again.
1 comment:
Must have been a sled-getting kind of year...there was one for me under the tree too! :) It wasn't the same as the orange one in your photo, but that's probably because I already have one of those. I can't wait for a really good snow so I can try my new one out!
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