Family Christmas Gathering 2010

Yesterday, we got the whole Smith crew together ~

to celebrate Christmas.

What a fun time we had ~

there's just something about getting everyone together

under one roof (mama LOVES that!)

we visited ~ The girls ~ love them so much! The siblings ~ love THEM so much! Then did stockings {yes, I still do them!!!!} The buddies (Sawyer and Ayden) ~ enjoying their stockings Rebekah and Bailey

Brittany and Andrea

Steve and Phill talking "music"

the boys ~ Joshua, Sawyer and Ayden

Bailey and her "new jewelry case....with a dancing ballerina (of course!).

Papa and Joshua

Phill and Andrea

Hannah telling quite the story ~

:)

The girls with their new aprons ~ Christy and Courtney

Pat and his stocking ~ yep, a Cowboy hat (Santa got it right at the Cowboy stadium!)

Phill enjoying his stocking

Phill and Christy

Hannah and Courtney looking at an old calendar I found ~

1986....the year Hannah was born.

The whole gang ~ enjoying dinner.

We got all 15 of us at the table. Love that!

Steve and Joshua

Love the "siblings" spending some GREAT time together.

Fun!

Grandkid wrestling ~ woo hoo!

Hannah and Phill

Brittany

Andrea

Bailey and Hannah

adults gather to open gifts

Christy

Steve and Joshua

Pat receiving a gift ~ a fun family memory of "pineapple juice" :)

Courtney and her Daddy (notice Alden's new sweatshirt!)

The evening winding down.......tired little people (and big ones too!)

Grandma and Joshua fitting in a little ping pong :)

:)

Rebekah and Brittany

guys enjoying each other

And remembering our precious Rwandan boys ~ {click on the collage to see the pics better} Love ~ and prayers for them

(and Courtney and Pat)

Alden prayed a sweet prayer for them at the dinner table ~

tears were shed....as we wait for God's timing

for them to join us.

Wonderful Christmas gathering ~

with very special people in our lives.

Christmas 2010 comes to a close ~

and now resting up......

for a quiet New Year's Eve.

Happy 37th Anniversary to Us

Alden and I were married at Bolling AFB ~

this day.....December 29 ~

37 years ago

(a Christmas wedding ~ it actually rained that day,

but we had had snow just a few days earlier!).

We learned about life together ~

So in love then....... and so in love now.

We met at NC State University ~

yes, we were both in ROTC.

Had our family together.......

as we travelled the world in the AF ~

loving every minute of it.

We've grown ~ we've experienced life.....

together.

God brought us together ~

a country boy and a city girl.

We couldn't imagine it any other way.

I love you Alden ~ you bring much joy and contentment to my life.

Your family is one of the BEST parts of my world ~

they are some of the kindest, most thoughtful people I have ever known.

Happy Anniversary! God's blessings on the next 37 years!

{Alden is taking me on a surprise date today ~ I can't wait to see what it holds.}

Christmas Eve/Christmas Day Celebrations

Christmas ~

Jesus was born....came as a baby,

to give His life for us

to have a relationship with

the Almighty God.

Hallelujah!

from Alden and I

Let us worship Him together ~ With adult children ~ Christmas is celebrated "many ways" in "different days". We love it ALL! Christmas Eve we went to church with Phill, Christy and their family. a special time we had worshipping our Lord together

Christy, Alden, Brittany, Ayden, Dorian, Andrea and Phill

Precious family ~

Love our time with them ~

We then headed to their house ~

for a delicious dinner.

While Phill and Christy were cooking....

grandma iced Christmas cookies with the girls.

Christy is a MOST amazing cook ~

cooking is her love language.

beef wellington, crab cakes and salad with breaded goat cheese ~

WOW! Not your ordinary meal!

Brittany and I playing a game together :)

Alden and Ayden having some fun!

Ayden checking out the tree

taking in the candle ~ quiet moment

Phill's family headed up to PA to spend some time with Christy's family

mid day Christmas after they had their own Christmas at their own home

Christmas morn arrived ~

Alden mixing the cheese balls. :)

{Courtney, Pat and family spend Christmas Eve with Pat's folks),

all families spend Christmas morn in their own homes;

Hannah worked Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day ~ but she came Christmas Eve to spend a few hours with us after her work, and headed back to our house after work

Christmas Day ~

adult kids bring "different" Christmases for us ~

but we appreciate the time we get....whenever that is. Thankful!

Traditional Sarah Lee coffee cake ~

thanks to my dear friend Alice.

This is a childhood tradition for me (my family growing up had this)

and I had not been able to find it for many years.

Alice and I were talking one day ~

realizing her husband John had this same tradition.

She had seen it....

and brought TWO to me....as a wonderful surprise.

Precious! Thank you Alice!!!! The tradition carries on.........with JOY!

Christmas afternoon we headed to Hannah's work....

to spend a little time with her (and give the ER some goodies to enjoy!)

{click on the picture and it will get bigger!}

Special time with Hannah ~

We (Alden, Steve and I) headed to Courtney and Pat's ~

for yet another delicious dinner ~

fahitas (homemade tortillas and all!) Yum!

The Cassada family got the Wii ~

what fun we all had!!!!!

making tortillas

Rebekah and I rolling the dough for the tortillas

Great helper ~

delicious ~

wonderful time together ~

Papa and Sawyer enjoying trains ~

Special time with family ~

Hannah arrived Christmas night ~

Alden, she and I "chilled".

(my goal is to give Hannah some R.E.S.T....)

Oh yes.........rest on dear Hannah.

Christmas morn "for us ~ Dec. 26th" ~

arrived. :)

Santa came ~ stockings were enjoyed

The Christmas story was read ~ as this IS the reason we have this day.

candles were lit ~

we all read ~

God's Word ~

and discuss the GREATEST gift of all ~

God giving us His Son.

then the gifts are opened .......... from each other.

Steve and Hannah

Alden, Hannah and I ~

our precious family.

Steve had a show ~ his band was playing ~

so we all enjoyed that.......

then settled down by the fire.....

to take in the blessings of our lives.

from us to you ~

Blessed......this Christmas.