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On Christmas Day we open gifts at home first, just the five of us. I love these pics with everyone in their matching gowns and crumpled hair (including mine and Frank’s!) but just can’t bring myself to post them on the internet. Ha!

Frank’s parents always have lunch for us and the girls love to go there to open gifts. This year they had traveled to Spain and brought back beautiful things for us all.

After the Passes, we try to catch a nap (mine and Frank’s Christmas present from the girls!) and then we head to the farm where my mother and George have always prepared a wonderful dinner. This year we had standing rib roast and smoked gouda mashed potatos…soooooo gooda. My mother takes great pride in her beautiful table settings, too so I included a picture of one.

They never fail to overdo gifts for the children, as you may see fromt he stash Katy has piled next to her in one of the following photos. George’s middle son, Chris and his girls Tess, Wyn and Skye were also there…pretty strawberry blonds. My sister was given a pencil sketch of her mother, Sherry, and one of herself at the same age. My brother Jason’s babies are growing up. The Boy is 3 and WIDE open, Sarah has the beautiful curls and Baby Becca is wearing the tutu.

It was really a wonderful Christmas with wonderful people. When reflecting, I am always amazed at how enormously blessed with people to love I am.

This was my 40th Christmas Eve at my Oma’s house… the very same house I took my first steps in 39 years before. Then i was the only grandchild of their three children Cynthia, Daddy and Belinda. Now…welll, it’s changed a bit! There are 11 grandchildren, our significant others, and 16 great-grandchildren (two more on the way!)…and yet its still the same size house!

Incidentally, my Oma turned 84 on Jan 26 and is still extraordinarily independant. She suffered a setback this year when she fell and had to deal with surgery and rehab, but she worked very hard and is doing very well now.

After Oma’s we went to George’s sister Suzy’s very festive Christmas Eve buffet dinner. YUM. The girls love to play with George’s great-neices and nephews.

By the way, see my beautiful new earrings?? Frank surprised me right before we went out. I had them made from some old pieces collecting dust in my jewelry box and paid on them for what seemed like a year! He surprised me with them…i thought i would still have to wait a while!

I was thrilled to be a part of a wonderful Happy Birthday Celebration for Jesus at Frazer this year. So unique. So wonderful. New music guy, Wayne Sigler, ROCKS. Met some wonderful new friends during rehearsals 2 nights a week for the 2 months before. It was a terrific experience and we performed for 4000+ people in two performances. Pictured below are me with my co-players; Debbie and Allen Peavy, Alyssa Boyd, Ken Roach, Lauren Webster, Janet Gipson, Owen Corothers, Jerrod Dorminey and Mike Bright.

Ella Grace went Pinkalicious for her 6th. Her fave book from Grandonna’s house provided the theme but Heidi Murphy provided the decor. Wow…what WOULD I have done without all that STUFF she had! Family and friends, cake and ice cream…and presents! This bike game she’s playing has been the HIT. Its the first thing she asks to do when she wakes up.

Katy and I were invited to accompany our precious Katie Causey and her mom, Cindy, to her physical therapy appointment and Christmas party at Children’s Hospital in B’ham. Katy got to try some of the fun “toys” Katie gets to play on when she goes for pt and then she enjoyed different activities, as you can see. Santa came out and gave GOOD gifts, too.