Sunday, December 14, 2014

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS


Well what a wonderful week-end of celebrations this has been.  For those of you who have been following me for a while you know that my precious mom passed over into heaven's gates a year ago last May, and last Christmas was our first one without her.  I wanted to start a new tradition that would celebrate her, and so I invited my brothers, sisters and their significant others to our house for dinner and time where we could all just reminisce about mom to our hearts contents, as only someone who has shared your childhood and memories could.  So in keeping with our new tradition, we had our dinner on Sat. night.   Everything about it was just sooo nice.  I prepared a prime rib and made baked potatoes will all the fixings.  Then together they all brought a delicious salad, tasty green beans, rolls, and pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and a stunning cheesecake.  Needless to say we had more food then we ever needed to eat, but oh my goodness it was SOO good.  I get to set my table up with my Christmas china and crystal which is something that just screams mom to every one of us.  How mom loved a pretty table.  After a very leisurely dinner we retired to the living room in front of the fire and opened presents and spent the next few hours sharing stories of our pasts and laughing and enjoying one another.  I am privileged to have 3 sisters who are pretty much my best friends as well, and two brothers.  One of my brothers lives in Arizona and so far he hasn't made it to one of our new gatherings, but we did talk to him on the phone for a while.  I got such precious and nice things I have to share them with you.  First, my sister Danae made all of us girls the MOST beautiful and special thing.  My mother had a HUGE HUGE love for costume jewelry and had just a ton of it it seemed.  Some of it she wore just all the time and we can hardly look at it without thinking of her.  And yet, for me, I am not much of a costume jewelry wearer.  So it was pretty stuff I could look at once in a while, but other then that what are you going to do with it?  Well, my sister took that jewelry painstakingly apart, divided it into piles, and then fashioned it into BEAUTIFUL designs that she glued together in a pictures and framed them for us!  Now we have honestly to goodness heirlooms that we can not only display and enjoy, but pass down to our daughters as a cherished memory of mom.  Let me show you mine...


THIS PIC DOESN'T BEGIN TO DO THIS JUSTICE,,,,SOOO PRETTY

And then I'll just show you some if the other nice things I got ..

SHE ALSO GAVE ME THIS DARLING NEW ORNAMENT

MY SISTER DIANE CROCHETED US ALL THESE DARLING LITTLE ORNAMENTS

FROM MY SISTER DONNA,,,SOO CUTE FROM YANKEE CANDLE


DIANE AND I

JUST ABOUT READY TO EAT,,,HUBBY LIGHTING CANDLES

THE TABLE

OUR LIVINGROOM PRE-PARTY

ANOTHER VIEW

ANOTHER VIEW INTO FAMILY ROOM

And then...  Hubby and I have been attending a dinner house Christmas play every year since  I can remember.   For the last few years we have trading off which grandkids join us for the event.  This year it was Cody's and Jeffie's turn. We went to the matinee as it is easier for the kids to make it through.  It was honestly such a fun time.  Cody is also at such a fun age to enjoy all the magical fun of Christmas and was such a good boy.  Jeffie was lots of fun too but boy is he ever starting to grow up. He and I share a very similar sense of humor and found ourselves exchanging smiles and knowing nods a couple of times.  The food is always outstanding but honestly between last night and today I am going to have to make up for it in the next few days.  Let me show you the pics from this. 

AS WE ARRIVED   THE BOYS AND GRANDMA

JEFFIE AND I PLAY A COMPETITIVE GAME OF WORD SEARCH WHENEVER WE GET THE CHANCE...HE JUST BEAT ME AGAIN....HE IS GETTING TOO GOOD FOR THIS GRANDMA!  LOL

CODY SIPPING HIS JUICE OH SOO CAREFULLY

THE BOYS AND I AS THE PLAY WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN

JEFFIE'S DESSERT.....BERRY PARADISE!  SOO BIG

DIGGING IN

HOW DARLING IS HE?

SOMEONE TOOK OUR PICTURE FOR US...NOT SURE WHAT SHE DID TO THE CAMERA...OH WELL, YOU GET THE IDEA

All in all it was just a wonderful  weekend that will go down in the memory books and I am just so grateful.  Still have a few more grandkid plans to get to before Christmas which include sleepovers, nutcracker tickets and Christmas light displays. But I intend to spent the next couple of days at least RELAXING and re-charging, lol.  Hope you are all enjoying this season as well as we celebrate the birth of or savior!  Blessings to you all Debbie 


14 comments:

  1. What a wonderful weekend to remember! I am doing something very special tomorrow. I invited my 4 brothers to go to dinner with me. Just us. No spouses. I am so excited. I am giddy!!
    XO Kris

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  2. What a busy but wonderful weekend! Hope you get to recharge these next couple of days.

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  3. I always enjoy catching up with you Debbie. I just love the costume jewelry re-purposing.

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  4. Sounds like you all had a wonderful weekend. Your table is gorgeous and so are all the pictures of your house. Love the pics of your grandsons too.

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  5. Your table was beautiful, and it sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with your grandsons. Hope you get in lots of recharging and relaxing soon, enjoy your week.

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  6. What a wonderful thing to do as you reminisce about your dear mother. I remember many posts about her and when you brought her into your home for a time. So glad you have special memories. I miss my mom too, especially at this time of year. I love your photos. Your home looks so warm and inviting Deb.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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  7. What a nice weekend! I always enjoy your photos so much. I love seeing what fun your family is doing from week to week.
    I hope you have a lovely week. This last one before Christmas. I love that costume jewelery Christmas tree. It is just lovely.
    So are all of the gifts. Your little Christmas quilt on the wall looks great too.
    Every things is just so homey. Have a great week.

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  8. What a lovely tradition. Love the frame with the costume jewelry pieces, what a great idea and thoughtful gift. Love all of your gifts and enjoyed all of the pictures. What a great week-end you had!!!!

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  9. What a great idea-using the costume jewelry pieces-love it! Great pictures!

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  10. I would never have thought to turn costume jewelry into something like that...how clever and yet another way to keep your mom's memory alive.

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  11. Hi Debbie, It seems like it has been forever since I've visited you and I have missed it! I loved hearing about your family gathering remembering your mom. I also love your jewelry Christmas tree-my fil used to make them and we never ended up with one though.
    Love reading about your time with the boys. I have to say I love seeing your home-it is so beautiful!!!!
    Sending you big hugs.
    Noreen

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  12. I love that you have started the tradition of getting together with your siblings to remember your Mother during the Christmas season. That is so sweet and I know it is a special time for all of you. And, sharing the special time with the two Grandsons, another memory making time. Blessings!

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  13. This was such a beautiful blog post! The idea with your mother's jewelry is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! Such a good idea!!! I enjoyed all of your pictures. Your grandsons are just as handsome as can be; and you and your hubby look like the perfect grandparents! That quilt on your wall (and in your header) is gorgeous. I have saved the picture of that for my "make it someday" file! (smile)

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  14. What lovely and meaningful gatherings you have been enjoying!! Your dinners to honor your mother's memory...and to strengthen the ties between brothers and sisters...are inspiring. And inviting your grands on a special Christmas outing is a way to make new memories and strengthen those ties with the next generation.

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!