Christmas to New Years in Pictures

For the first time in our married life together
Richard and I spent Christmas morning alone.
We slept in til after 8:00, opened our stockings,
had our "Yulekaga" breakfast, took our traditional
Christmas morning picture of the tree and then opened
our presents to each other. Very strange in a quiet, peaceful
sort of way.

A little after lunch time, the peace gradually became the
traditional excitement and noise of Christmas as Chris and Emily
arrived and then our Philpott family of 7 from Sacramento.
Hurray for the explosion of love!!

After we opened the Christmas presents and then had a great
Christmas dinner that everyone shared in the making of,
we had some more fun family time together.
Jenna and Isaiah loved the rocking horse that was bought for their uncle Chris
when he was two.

Auntie Em played Christmas carols for us as Emma
and Isaiah listened and tried to help her out... like she
needed any help.

Finally, after many years, we have enough children to
act out the nativity story. Here is Papa Mann as the inn keeper
with Michael as Joseph, and Abigail as Mary, great with child.
Daddy John, reprized his role as the donkey.
Uncle Chris was a shepherd (note the mini lamb
from our Ecuador Nativity set)
who had been told by the Angel (Auntie Em)
about the birth of the Christ child.
Emma, Jenna, and Isaiah were the 3 wise men.
We missed having Dave, Brook and Carter here.
Carter could have been a perfect baby Jesus.
It was a wonderful Christmas!!

On the 27th of Dec. Susannah "Jones" had her wedding reception
and I did a cake for her and her husband as a gift.
They cut it for the traditional pictures and feeding.
She is a dear friend of the family and was the only girl
in Jeff's high school Posse of friends. They are still all very good friends.
Here they are together (minus one) for perhaps the last time.
Even though having a birthday so close to Christmas can be
hard, I've realized how lucky I am to be able to have my gifts
under a Christmas tree. Not many people have that privilege.
However I do request that my gifts are not wrapped in Christmas paper!

Chris and Emily, and Jeff and Rachelle were here for my birthday.
We had a great day together as it was a day off of work for me.
They all fixed my Birthday dinner (Taco Salad at my request)
then I showed my "daughters" how to decorate a cake.
We all enjoyed the evening and played games too.
Thank you Family for a great Birthday.