Christmas at Thanksgiving

 It seems like we have been away from our blog for a long time

but we have not forgotten it.

Most of the things we have been doing have been of us

making Christmas gifts so we couldn't put anything

on the blog without giving away the "Christmas Surprise".

Early in November Camry, Jetta & Sienna came over

and we put the Christmas Tree up

and had lots of fun decorating it.

Then on Wednesday the 21st Camry and Jetta

came over to help us get ready for our

big week.

They helped clean...

and made table decorations....

a mini Christmas Stocking for each place

at our Christmas Dinner table ....

and.....

Napkin Holders for our

Thanksgiving dinner table ....

Camry helped prepared some of the food for

both our holiday meals.

About dinner time Kevin and his family arrived.

Then after dinner the boys got in their P.J's, 

watched a fun TV show then

went to bed in the newly decorated Play Room.

On Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving

with an amazing "feast" and

Thanksgiving activities that Jetta organized.

we first had a salad bar

Jen made these cute penguins out of

olives, carrots & cream cheese.

then a couple of hours later we had our main meal

complete with turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce,

potatoes & rolls....

it was delicious and everyone liked their

homemade, personalized, napkin holders.

the weather was wonderful and the kids

had fun playing outside with games of

Duck, Duck, Goose and....

Red Light, Green Light.

 

After Crew woke up from his nap

we celebrated his 2nd birthday which

just happened to fall right on

Thanksgiving Day.

We all had fun watching him open his Birthday gifts 

and then blowing out the candles on his

Disney Friends birthday cake.

On Thanksgiving night we had

a "sleep-over" around the

Christmas Tree.

Each of the grand kids opened a special, hand made,

gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

(we don't want to spoil the surprise for the Lansford kids so

we won't show any pictures until later)

On Saturday we began our 

Christmas Celebration by letting

Kevin's family open their

"Family" gift.....

A floor puzzle which Connor especially enjoyed.

For our Christmas dinner we enjoyed

ham, scalloped potatoes, baked beans,

salad, rolls, little Santa Strawberries and, of course,

candy filled Mini Christmas Stockings!

On Sunday we all went to church together

and after Sacrament Meeting  everyone

met at our house for "CHRISTMAS"

Steve & Kevin left to go pick Debbi up

from the Airport....a surprise for all the kids who

didn't know she was coming.

After Debbi arrived and all the screams of surprise

and hugs were done we started the

fun of opening gifts.

After letting the kids sort all the gifts

we went around the room and let each person

open one gift.....  

Then around the room

again.....

and again.....

and again.....

 

 



 



and again.....

until all the gifts had been opened.

Matt's girls always LOVE it when Debbi

comes to visit.

This year GiGi made these wonderful Advent books.

Debbi read the letter as we all followed along.

Everyone L-O-V-E-D the book and 

we were all anxious to get started using it.

(it's now December....have you started yet?)

Whether living in Idaho, Utah or Texas

we still remain OREGON fans!

with hats and shirts

and flags

and just to be fair we included flags 

for a couple of other schools we like to cheer on.

Sunday night after Kevin's family left for

their home in Utah,

Debbi did the girls hair in french braids.

We had a wonderful week celebrating

Thanksgiving and Christmas 

together

We all missed having the Lansford's with us

this year but we look forward to

all being together when George returns from

his deployment the end of next summer.

Now Grandma and Grandpa will head to

Texas where we will spend

Christmas with Trudi, Wyatt, Charlotte & Cora

and George, we will miss you and be thinking of you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy (and safe) New Year George!