Christmas Week 2012 - Part One

Christmas Week Part I

 Here we go ... its Monday and Christmas Eve ... I am busy getting Bethlehem Dinner prepared, with the help of Dad, when he is not distracted by his boys .... Sam brought up his trombone, so Spencer went and got the one he, Trevor and Davin had shared growing up... then back to the attic for Dad's trombone ... and we have an impromptu trombone trio.  Sam even worked with grandpa Carlo, until he got him to toot a few notes ... Grandpa had a delightful time, though he was concerned when Beckie was bothered by the volume of sound and said they should not "scare the little cowboy" ... guess Grandpa knows about Beckie's Texas roots.

The table was laid in our wood and pottery best, with rough woven clothes and candlesticks.

Then we gathered the pilgrims, both those that came to Bethlehem to be taxed, as well as those who came from afar following a star.  There were locals gathered there as well, such as the Inn Keeper (Who was repeatedly scorned for his lack of Inn-keeperness) and local shepperds who came to see what all the hullabaloo was about!

 Above are the three kings from the orient ... to the left is Joseph and the 'baby Jesus'.

After Dad read to us from the Gospel of Luke, we watched the boys participating in push up wars, not really sure where that came from.  But as you can see it was Elias, who topped them all, so to speak.

Christmas morning fell on Tuesday.  We had sweet rolls and hot chocolate while we opened gifts ... having Beckie there made it extra fun and we appreciated Emily and Sam's willingness to join the rest of us upstairs ... Spencer was even there in body (if not in spirit, he spent as much time the whole weekend texting and skyping with his friend Brit)

Darby and Beckie open favorite gifts.

Here is Spencer opening his gift from Britney.

And this is Grandpa with his memory book from Emily.  She put it together to help him know the people is is around most of the time.  He has really enjoyed it.

 

Since there are so many pictures already, I decided to do this week in two segments.  The other segments starts with our Christmas lunch.