After presents at our house, we all headed to worship together. After worship, we headed over to my mother-in-love's house for Sunday lunch. I know I mentioned earlier that we didn't have turkey and dressing . . .still thinking about that!!
When we were younger, we ALL exchanged gifts with everyone and that pile of presents was enormous. These days we draw names amongst the brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. I was the "name drawer" this year and they made me remove Emma's name so she received several presents. We all buy for Grandmother (MIL). She has a new wardrobe after Christmas every year!
We've been taking a picture of grandmother with the grandkids for quite a few years. I need to look back and find the earliest one - problem is pictures were on old computer that is no longer alive (they are also on memory cards and some other picture device SOMEWHERE IN THIS HOUSE). This was the first year with a great grandchild in the picture.
Emma was the center of attention for much of the day . . .she is sitting smack dab in the middle of the men.
She received the cutest cloth barn with animals inside -- the animals make noise.
After our jaunt to Grandmother's house (over the river and through the woods . . .), we went home for a brief nap and to regroup before our next adventure.
I've been an Elliott for almost 33 years and Christmas day night has always been a tradition. I was even included when we were dating. Way back then, the party was at Mark's grandmother's house. She was about the same age as Mark's momma is now back then. She actually lived with Mark's family but they had kept her house down on Lancaster Road. The maid would go down with Mark's momma and her sister, Aunt Margaret, and they would clean the house and put up a tree and get everything ready. The family would have a big Christmas dinner and they ALL exchanged presents back then.
After she died, Mark's mom and Aunt Mary rotated the party back and forth between their homes. For the last couple of times, Nathan has done the party at his house and it was bittersweet again this year without Aunt Mary, Uncle John, and Nancy.
These are my girls. I sure do love them!
This is a wonderful thing -- now there are all these young adults in the family.
I love all four of these people!! Emma looked so cute in her green dress, white tights, and red shoes.
Here is another shot of even more of our young adult family members.
Sally babysat for us a lot when Glenn and Laura were little and it was such a sweet moment to see her holding Emma. She was trying to sneak a kiss from Emma and this picture is funny because it looks like Emma is pushing away - no way, Aunt Sally!!
This was not only the year of young adults at the family party, but this was the year of babies - babies everywhere! They were all so very cute!!
Another picture I love - Glenn and his grandmother and Emma.
This year was bittersweet in other ways, too. One of Mark and George's first cousins, Bur, and his wife, Beth are moving to the west coast to be near their grandbaby (and daughter, of course!). John Wesley and Margaret are Bur and Beth's children -- John Wesley lives in New York and has a cool custom wood/furniture business -- Grain Control. His wife also has an incredibly interesting career with Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal. Their daughter, Margaret, and her husband live on the West Coast - hence, Bur and Beth's move. This was probably the last year that they will all be here with us for Christmas. There were about 40 of us for Christmas this year. This group is comprised of Mark's momma (the only one left of that generation) and her children (4) and families and her nieces and nephews (8) and families (on the Harris side). Mark and I may have moaned and groaned a few times over the years about having to attend or about having to help do all the work (when Mark's momma is hostess) but I truly can't imagine Christmas without this gathering.
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