Christmas 2022

We started off Christmas early with a drive through the VU lights at the beginning of December. It took a long time for them to get the photographs up & I was afraid something was wrong with it - this year, Mom's face was the one cut off & Leah couldn't be bothered eating her rice crispy treat! I love it. L to R: James (10 years old), Amelie (12 years old), Grandma Doris (90 years old), Nana Jana, Cousin Camron, Me, Leah (5 years old). The lights were really nice! And no waiting in line since we used Holly's employee invite. In fact, I drove by the entrance the 1st time because I was looking for a line of cars & there wasn't one. They gave us hot chocolate at the beginning & I asked for 6 & Nana Jana yelled from the back of the car that there were 7 people in the car & I yelled back at her that I didn't want to try to drink & drive. 

Sam's been introducing the kids to all his favorite Christmas movies - he was especially excited about Ernest Saves Christmas. On the 26th, Leah got to pick the movie & she said it was finally past Christmas so she didn't have to pick a Christmas movie. Ha! 

Believe it or not, this is the best picture from Christmas Eve candlelight service at church. Sam said afterward that it was the best the kids had acted (during the service!) and the other Sam said, well, theoretically they just get better behaved every year from here, right? RIGHT?? 

As per tradition, we went to the magic tree afterward. It was incredibly cold & we didn't stay long, but James got to play briefly on the frozen-over water feature so he was happy. 

All ready for opening presents the next day: 

The mantle: 

I am including this terrible picture of me from Christmas morning because it's a picture with me in it! I didn't get any of Sam on Christmas morning - or Grandma either! Sam got up & made cinnamon rolls & bacon & grandma got a wearable throw & a fancy soap. Spark got a present - two actually but I only wrapped one of them. 

The kids made Nana Jana & Grandma Mary calendars again. I liked the idea for a cardinal bird handprint. 

Leah got a bowling set: 

And a nightlight that changes colors with her name engraved on it from Aunt Jenn & Uncle Joe in New Mexico: 

Also A LOT of candy: 

Amelie with one of her new books & one of her new pairs of earrings (strawberries): 

James with his stocking: 

James wanted to go to the mall the day after & spend his Christmas money, which was burning a hole in his pocket. He also wanted to ride the carousel, which despite what it looks like here, he enjoyed immensely. He kept looking up at the mechanism for how the creatures move up & down. 

We got Chinese food at the food court & he bought 2 Nintendo Switch Games & 3 books at Barnes & Noble & window shopped/browsed through several other stores (& he even has some leftover money). 

This was before Christmas - but we had a frigid cold snap - below zero during the day & Spark kept wanting to go in & out: 

There was not quite as much snow as they'd initially predicted (& like I said, it was VERY VERY COLD). 

Leah got all bundled up, though!

Here's the link to 2021 for comparison! 

UPDATE: I forgot to say that we played Bingo with the Kifers in Fort Smith via Zoom & used up the last of the Bingo money that Grandma Leroy had given to Tara to continue the tradition. Grandma Doris, Leah, Sam & I all won 2 games each & Amelie and James both got bored with it & wandered off after the first couple of games. Leah kept going up to the camera to try to talk to the cousins. I think Mom & Steve both won one game. Holly didn't play this year because she put a brad nail through one of her water pipes while renovating her basement apartment for Grandma & had to babysit the pipe so her house didn't flood (again).