We were so excited when all of the grandparents arrived for Christmas lunch!  Both sets of grandparents gave Noelle fashion books and design kits.  They know her so well!

So here’s the part where I HAVE to brag on my husband.  Whenever Mike cooks, the entire house fills with the most amazing aromas, and we know we’re in for a treat!  Today, for the first time ever, he attempted Beef Wellington, and are you kidding me?  It was the most amazing dish I have ever tasted in my life.  Each bite had a million flavors, and it was the first time I ever consciously slowed down to enjoy each bite a little longer.  I know that sounds crazy, but it was that crazy good.  Food is a big part of our spiritual act of worship and is something we have embraced at our church, sharing meals together.  It’s important how we fill our bodies, and we do it every day.  It’s a huge part of our lives, and when I post pictures of food, I’m posting pictures of what I want to remember… our senses help us remember our days… and I don’t ever want to forget a thing about our celebrating!

 

Noelle made place cards for all of us for lunch.  She used everyone’s official names.  It was very sentimental for me because they were my Granny’s place cards that she never got the chance to use.  I found them in a stack of stuff to be donated and had a special feeling they would be important someday.  That was before Noelle was even born.  The holidays are a sad time for many because our loved ones we’ve shared Christmases in the past and made Christmas memories with are no longer with us.  If you can imagine the pain my girls will feel when their grandmothers are gone, that’s the pain I feel for my Granny, and the pain I know many of you share with me for your loved ones.  It’s bittersweet, because we are so thankful to God for those from our past and at the same time, are grateful to have the opportunity to share Christmases with a new generation.  It’s just a place card, but it’s so much more than that, because I will ALWAYS have a place in my heart for my grandmothers!

Back to the food… here’s a close up of the Beef Wellington (Mike stayed up way late Christmas Eve night cooking while I was working on gifts; it was fun team work getting it all done)… Everyone contributed to the meal, and we were so grateful.  Kay Kay and Grand Papa brought the green bean casserole, desserts and champagne.  Poppa and Rara brought the fruit salad, dinner rolls and wine.  Thanks everyone!

The only thing I regret about this picture, that I know I’ll look back and laugh about later, is that we didn’t use our china.  We have 12 place settings of really pretty china that we’ve never even unwrapped from our wedding almost 10 years ago… the story is we were too tired to unwrap them this year, even though we finally have a house to host in… something to look forward to for next year!

 

Kay Kay and Grand Papa gave Anna Kate her red boots to complete her outfit and a pocket Jessie to put in her purse!  These pictures seriously melt my heart.  I’ll treasure this memory always!  I’ve been wondering what she’d look like all dressed up like Jessie for months… she’s so so cute and sweet!

I think this is why we didn’t have the energy to unwrap the china, but I’m not sure… she should be happy… she has on sissy’s shoes!

Okay, in all fairness, it was getting close to nap time, but this present from Rose’s Pond grandparents got her out of her tantrum.  She’s one sweet little baby who we know is “just teething.”  That’s what we say anyway… no seriously though, she had a little fever and runny nose, I think that’s been her problem… for the past month or so!  I keep going back and forth,  teething or terrible “2’s” we love her with all of our hearts and couldn’t live without her, no matter what!  I mean, look at those eyes!

 

Noelle loved her design kit from Kay Kay and Grand Papa.  They also made a cute little coupon with money to buy her first grade year book, which she’s been begging for.  So sweet!  N was the only one to go out and brave the snow as it surprised us on Christmas day.  It felt like 70 the day before and after, but on the 25th, we had a white Christmas!  So magical!