Friday, December 30, 2016

CHRISTMAS 2016

Well considering it is almost time for New Years, I guess I'd best get around to posting about our Christmas,  I just continue to be a little behind and neglectful of my blog.  But better a little later then never I guess.

Christmas 2016 was really VERY good.  Everyone was well, and our celebrations while not spent ALL together were good.  Early on Christmas Eve morning hubby and I headed down to San Diego to spend the entire day and night with our youngest son James and his family.  We stopped for a yummy breakfast and arrived at their house by about 10:30.  We spent the entire day enjoying GREAT food, opening gifts, playing with grandkids, watching Christmas movies while relaxing, and lots and lots of wonderful conversation,  Everything about it was perfect honestly.  From the chilly weather (not always a given by any means here in So. California) to the tasty food (that I didn't have to prepare...just sat back and enjoyed) and of course just time spent with loved ones.  We went to a nearby 5 star hotel to sleep and then after a wonderous buffet breakfast at the hotel, met them all at church the next morning for their Christmas morning service.  That too was wonderful.  It was kind of a packed house, but that's OK.  Many voices raised in worship in the celebration of our Lord's birthday is honestly pretty hard to beat.  My son kept the message short and we ended with even more singing.

WE STARTED WITH 12 YEAR OLD CAPRI'S BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!

SHE SEEMED TO LOVE THE OUTFIT I MADE HER, AND HER MAMA AND I WERE SURE GLAD WE HAVE FOUND A PATTERN FOR A TOP THAT SHE LIKES AND FIT HER WELL!  I see lots more outfits like this one in the future, lol

CUTE PIC BEFORE WE OPENED THE REST...10 YEAR OLD JD JUST CAN'T SEEM TO HELP HIMSELF....FULL OF MISCHIEF AND FUN.  BUT HONESTLY, DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN A BETTER BIG BROTHER.  HE IS SOO SWEET WITH 3 YEAR OLD VINNY

JOINT GIFT THIS YEAR FOR THE 3 OLDER ONES....X-BOX S ONE  THEY ALL SEEMED TO REALLY ENJOY IT!

THESE TWO PLAY TOGETHER SOOO WELL ON IT, AND TELLA PREFERRED TO SPEND HER TIME ON THERE DANCING, LOL
VINNY LOVED HIS NEW MONSTER JAMMIES I MADE HIM.


IT WAS RAINING WHEN WE LEFT THERE THAT NIGHT BUT I JUST HAD TO SNAP THIS PIC OF THEIR DECORATED HOUSE, LOL. JAMES DOES IT UP BIG LIKE HIS DAD STILL DOES!  LOL
 After service was over we left right away to go to my oldest son's home to spend the rest of the day and evening.  Out middle son lives just a few miles away, and he and his wife joined us there.  It was honestly just another WONDERFUL day.  Lots of fantastic food, GREAT conversations, and time spent with more loved ones.  Everything about this celebration honestly just couldn't have been better either.  How blessed we are....

LINDSEY WAS TO CELEBRATE HER 16TH BIRTHDAY THE NEXT DAY, SO SHE WENT FIRST WITH HER BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM HER GRANDPA AND I.  WE GOT HER THE FIRST PIECE OF TIFFANY JEWELRY SHE HAS EVER RECEIVED, AND HOPEFULLY SHE WILL KEEP  IT ALWAYS AND REMEMBER HOW MUCH SHE WAS LOVED BY BOTH OF US!

OLDEST OF ALL OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN, EVAN AND THEIR DOGS.

JEFFIE HAD SOME SPECIAL SHOES PICKED OUT HES BEEN WANTING, SO GRANDPA AND I WERE HAPPY TO OBLIGE

7 MONTH OLD GREAT GRAND DAUGHTER SOPHIA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS.  SHE IS JUST FLAT OUT ADORABLE IF THIS G GRANDMA  CAN SAY SO HERSELF, LOL.  THE BIGGEST BROWN EYES YOU'VE EVER SEEN, AND THE LONGEST BLACK EYELASHES TO GO WITH THEM.  SHE WAS SOO MUCH FUN ON THE DAY!

MY SON RECEIVED THESE BOXING GLOVES FROM MALIK WHO IS THEIR FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH THEM.  HE SPENT 6 WEEKS HERE IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND BECAME SOO ATTACHED TO EVERYONE, HE WANTED TO COME BACK FOR THE HOLIDAYS,  HE TRAINS IN GERMANY AS A BOXER AND A MMA FIGHTER, SO HE WAS ESPECIALLY ENJOYING HIS TIME WITH MY SON AT HIS STUDIO.  SUCH A NICE KID...AND PRETTY CUTE TOO, LOL MY SON WAS THRILLED WITH HIS GIFT!

JOE'S KIDS AND FIRST GRANDCHILD

THEIR WHOLE FAMILY  plus Malik, lol, AND EVANS GIRLFRIEND K

ALL OF US!  MY MIDDLE SON AND HIS WIFE ARE RIGHT BY ME....ANNABEL'S HUBBY WAS TAKING THE PICS FOR US ALL!
OUR HOUSE AS WE PULLED IN LATE CHRISTMAS NIGHT


.We of course really missed Melody and her family.  It remains a challenge for me to not complain when she is missing from our celebrations.  It is hard.  But I've no doubt it is even harder for her as she is away from EVERYONE.  She did send us several little videos of the kids with their gifts which I of course treasured, by I just have to share this one with you.  It is SOOOO adorable of little Luke.  I do have to share what's going on with him though as well.  Several months ago he began losing his hair and was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata which is for those of you who don't know, an auto immune disease that attacks hair follicles.  Most of those who suffer from this condition do not lose ALL of their hair, but rather just patches and thinning here and there.  And most are older then two year old Luke was when this started up.  But Luke has lost all of his hair now, (and STILL looks adorable in this grandma's humble opinion) and truthfully Melody, like any mama, has had a hard time with it all,  She has clung to her God, and is doing amazing well now.  His hair could grow back in within a few months, or it might never grow back again at all.  There is no way of predicting what it might be, as it seems to be different for everyone.  It does seem fairly likely though that Luke will deal with this condition the rest of his life.

MELODY AND HER BABIES....JUST LOOK AT THAT SWEET LITTLE FACE ON LUKE....IS HE NOT ADORABLE HAIR OR NO HAIR?


Well that's it for now.  Christmas 2016 is in the books.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and are enjoying these last two days of the year.  I had my granddaughter Lindsey and niece Katie here for the last couple of days for some enjoyable times, and I am hoping maybe next week to get together with some of the younger ones as well.  If all goes as we planned, we will spend some of the next 3 days taking down Christmas and storing it away again until next year.  Looking sooo foward to the new year, and remaining SOO grateful for all of His abundant blessings!  Debbie

6 comments:

  1. wonderful moments as you visited your kids and grandkids this Christmas! Loved each and every photo! And yes, your little Luke is precious and beautiful as are all your grandchildren ! Sending wishes for a very happy new year!

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  2. Wonderful documenting, Debbie! You'll be glad to have this to look back on. Precious family and beautiful grandchildren and even a great! Luke is just as darling as he can be. That child needs no hair to make him cute as a button. (I have never shared this, but I have this condition...hair falls out in patches and I must do the "artful disguise" and pray that the wind doesn't blow. I am praying that God's perfect will for sweet Luke is done.)

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  3. Delightful post! Indeed, celebrations with family are some of the best moments!

    I had to smile at JD. My son Ryan hardly ever had a "normal" picture during his childhood. He was either in a costume or making a face or something. So I kind of enjoy those "10 year old boy" shots! :)

    Luke is adorable, through and through!

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  4. As always it is such a joy to stop in and read and look at all of the pictures. What a nice Christmas you had.
    I will be praying for Luke.
    I hope you have a wonderful 2017 Happy New Year Debbie.

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  5. I just loved this! What joy..what wonderful pictures, what memories, and once again, I have learned from a wonderful family!! Happy New Year!!!

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  6. So enjoyed your Cmas recap. Bless little Luke's heart and Melanie's heart, but know they will adjust over time. I just hate it for them. Wishing you a most blessed 2017!

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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!