Christmas Eve 2011

In the early afternoon, Dave and I and Kim/Matthew's family decided to go for a walk on the path behind their house, around the golf course.

Megan pauses on a wooden bridge, over the stream.

At this point, Megan had slipped on some black ice, and was determined to head back home.  We called her back to come and look at the ducks on the pond.

Brooke tries to balance on the railroad ties.  She did successfully walk a little before jumping off.  She found a leaf as large as her head that she carried around for a while; you can see the brown edges in the photograph.

More ice!  Kim holds up a giant shard, which she then gave to Brooke, who threw it on the ground where it shattered, a great play toy.  We spent some minutes here, getting pieces of ice, then crashing them down.

Matthew took us down his little creek. Our shoes are still recovering (we scraped off most of the mud, but are waiting for it to dry to bang off the rest).  In several places in his house are pictures of this area in autumn; they are beautiful photographs.  My favorite is of his house from the bridge here.  The sun is low in the sky and the golden-red rays of the sunset shine from behind his house, up the hill from here.

Matthew and Dave helped me photograph a couple of my quilts.

Getting ready for Christmas Eve's dinner.  At meal prep time, Brooke is a constant helper.

 Kim's bruschetta and tamales joined the things that Matthew and I had prepared: a cheese tray, shrimp with cocktail sauce, chips and dip,  sliced grilled brats and asparagus Belgique.

Peter and Megan help set up the table.

Matthew made our traditional punch in which we floated berries and citrus sections.

The family (in two photographs).

They've installed two baby swings downstairs in the unfinished part of their lower floor.  Danielle awaits the evening program. . .

 . . . which began with Emilee and Megan singing the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Emilee told some jokes, then Matthew read us the story of the Nativity, which I found quite touching, given that I was surrounded by family, contemplating the birth of the Savior, and thinking about the experiences that lay ahead of me.

We then began the gift-giving portion of Christmas which started with the sisters' presents to each other, and the traditional gift of pajamas.  Here's Danielle in hers.

The two older girls have American Girl dolls and their pajamas match the dolls.

Brooke has a baby doll (and their pajamas now match).  Her mother was able to coax this smile out of her so we can see how fun she is.  They are making cookies for Santa in the background.
Happy Christmas Eve!