Our Family Christmas, 2015

Hello and good evening, friends! :)

Well, I have a whole BUNCH of photos from Christmas to share with you but first ... !

I'd like to wish you all a Very Happy New Year! I hope and pray 2016 will bless you in so many ways - with fond memories, and family happiness, good health and peace in your heart - the kind of peace you can pass on to those you love and the world around you. I thank everyone, sincerely, for being such gracious and kind readers ... I so love my little blog and hope to continue it for as many more years as I can! What fun I have here with you all!

Now, here are some shots from the past couple of days - or I guess, that was last week! How time flies when you're having FUN ... :)

So how early did your Christmas start? ;)

Our tree in the wee hours of Christmas morning ... I was up with Earlybird (who, as usual, lived up to his pseudonym), sipping coffee and absorbing the peace of these dark early hours. (While, admittedly, also, consulting my to-do list in my head!)

The rest of the clan was up by 7 a.m. and it was go-time! How special is a 2 year-old's Christmas ...

EB with a new train book, one of his favorite gifts. 

Our 16 year old Crackerjack, who FINALLY got a phone! He's been very patient!

Our older boys, opening stocking stuff ... the tabletop soccer game was from Santa.

And here's Archie, who simply MUST be in the middle of everything.

A bit later in the morning, my folks and brother came over to open presents and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

Archie, again, in on the action. (Ollie was nowhere to be found).

I love how the cards look on our library door!

My mum's penuche fudge, my favorite Christmas treat! It is FABULOUS with coffee, fyi.

Speaking of coffee ... here are my pretty Christmas mugs. They hold a lot!

A felt banner stretching across the kitchen nook window ... one of my last-minute, 50% off, Michaels Store finds! And as you can see, it was such a bright and sunny day ... and startlingly warm - near 60°! Today, about a week later, we are in the 30s and there is snow on the ground ...

Our signature cocktail this Christmas: Jingle Juice Punch!

On Christmas afternoon we host a family gathering and here we have the appetizer spread  ... and my dear cousin Kara sampling the punch!

Speaking of Kara, here are her absolutely delicious Swedish spice cookies ...

The desserts table in the family room ... to my mind, you can never have too many desserts at Christmas!

My beloved Mum and me. She does most of the work at the holidays - I mostly just pick up and set tables!

More family arriving ... our home filled up with our dear ones!

So good to gather together and spend time catching up ...

Sharing laughs and swapping stories!

Little Bear loved being (mostly) in the center of attention. :)

 * Family Christmas, 2015! *

And then it was time for round two ... Bill's side of the family came up to visit on Boxing Day!

And Chinese cuisine is traditional on this holiday ... in our house, anyway!

Bill's Mom and Dad, merry-merry! :)

Little Bear and Bill with Aunt Ami and Uncle Greg (Bill's siblings!) ...

A new centerpiece: a gift from my brother - a little something for my garden. ;)

With some of my favorite ladies in the word ... my mum, Bill's mom, and my sister-in-law, Ami.

 Crackerjack, Bill and Little Bear ... digging in!

 Earlybird with his new planet shirt, showing Grandpa Bill a new present. :)

A little chaos at Christmas is natural!

And here we have Family Christmas 2015, part two!

I feel incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful family, and that we live close enough to gather together so often throughout the year. What a joyous Christmas this has been ... and here we are on the 7th day of Christmas, ready to welcome a brand new year. How are you spending your evening? We are here with the boys, enjoying our family's favorite dinner (meatloaf!) and a movie or two. We may or may not make it to midnight!

But I hope you all have a fantastic New Year's and I thank you, as always, for stopping by ...

I will see you here again very soon!