Day after Christmas

Meg and Claire went to Texas the day after Christmas.  Daniel joined David and I, along with Julia and Matt.  We had a nice day strolling along historic Ellicott City.

Christmas Day

                     
One of our Christmas highlights was talking with our favorite missionary, Sister Andrea Meiners in Calgary, Canada! Julia, Daniel and Meg were here, and James, Erika, Kara and their families tuned in on Skype.

                        Claire and her parents, Daniel and Meg, were with David and I
                                      on Christmas morning, along with Julia and Matt.
                              I was mostly interested in getting pictures of Claire though,
                     and seeing how a two year old views the magic of Christmas morning.

                                             Claire seemed to enjoy Christmas morning,
                          and she looked the embodiment of everything fun and festive about it.

                                               She enjoyed watching the train go around the track.

She looked like a cute little elf with her  new hat and jacket.

I think the Christmas apron she’s wearing was made by my Aunt Nancy for me when I was little.

                                  She liked the oatmeal box drum I made for her (among some storebought toys.)

                                                                  Merry Christmas, everyone!

The Gingerbread

This year we made and decorated gingerbread people instead of houses.

I think we all enjoy these holiday traditions,  no matter what age we are.

                                                                                       Matt and Julia

                                                                           Dave and Cheri

Daniel, Claire and Meg

Since I now eat Whole food, Plant-based, I wanted to adapt the type of treat I brought to our Christmas party for the women at church.  The roses and leaves of this fruit platter came from the crown of the pineapple, along with coconut and cranberries. It was a fun challenge to put this wreath together!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally Danish.  We had a bean loaf instead of meat, but still have the red cabbage and mashed potatoes. Dessert is always rice pudding with almonds, topped with raspberry sauce.  The person who gets the whole almond in our family gets a large almond or raspberry chocolate bar, and the rest of us share a second bar.  Congrats, David!

                         This hand drawn pic of mine became our Christmas card again this year.

                                          cute pics of James' family!

High School Music Concert

Dave and I enjoyed another Winter Music Concert at our local High School. Three of our children performed at these concerts in band, orchestra and choir concerts. They worked hard, won many competitions, made friends with fellow musicians, and performed some great music. Dave met many parents as he was the secretary for the Marching Band, was on their Pit Crew, and organized their Sub Sales for a few years.

Though it wasn't our children performing this year, we know some of the young people who did perform, and enjoyed the power that music has to bring people together.

Our son Daniel is still in the area, and was able to perform with one of these groups this past week. They sang the National anthem for a Harlem Globe-trotters game in Baltimore. It has been rewarding for our family to connect with our community through music.