Family Christmas Celebration - 2025

Today is December 27th, but it is only one day past our family celebration.  We gathered here at my Christmas wonderland.      I was all decorated for the occasion, but my kitchen was unfortunately out of service...or the cook was. So everyone got to choose his or her own Jersey Mike's sub and even chips! I know...so special!  But just wait for the dessert!

Susan had bought me a wonderful book, and Susannah sat right down to read it to Bear. I wish I could include a video, but it might be next Christmas before I succeeded. This was definitely a highlight of our Christmas--TO MIMI's HOUSE WE GO"

My favorite picture! The little angel looked up at me and smiled.

I will never forget this moment.

My grands gave me, drumroll please, a Nespresso machine! Madeline has one and has made wonderful coffees for me with it! Coffee has become a highlight of my days, and this opens up a whole new world of options!

Maddie gave Jay and Terri the cutest Funko characters named

Jay and Terri and resembling them! 

We had a good laugh over Terri's and Rob's matching gifts from me! They are mugs that say "Being your mother-in-law seems like gift enough...but here's a mug"

The only thing is that they go on to say,

Merry Christmas 2024.

Terri noticed! Rob said, "Did you forget to give them to us last Christmas?" "Why yes, I believe I did! I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Terri and Jay gave Bear all the coolest toys du jour, including a fabulous book he's going to love, and this fascinating teether,

and, of course, his Mickey ears which are monogrammed

Barrett!

Susannah's and Nick's anniversary is coming up on New Year's Eve! People still comment on how good their wedding cake was, and it was made by Creme de la Creme. The bakery sells sample boxes containing small pieces of all their flavors. I got a couple of these for our dessert, and here Susie and Nick are "cutting the cake," sharing all their favorite flavors. Just the best cake ever! I was proud of my idea, if not of my baking or cooking!

I had enough for everyone to have at least two pieces, but we didn't even eat near that much. But never fear. I'm enjoying the rest.

One of the most exciting thing about my Christmas was having the lights shining in the 75 plus year old doll house my parents gave me as a child. My precious niece Diann and her wonderful husband Patrick analyzed the problem, bought the parts, and sent an electrician to fix it. It made my Christmas bright!

This is the sweetest, most loving, most generous family, if I do say so myself, and I do.

I'm certainly glad Susan is in this picture, since it seems to be

the only one which included her. And she's the one who always makes sure everyone has photo memories!

Insert shame face.

The Mimes may not have cooked and for sure had lots of help, but she was still as tired as if she had been Mrs. Claus. Here are just a few of the pretties that she didn't have the energy to snuff.

The Metzgers came and helped me plug in and switch on all of them and offered to come back and undo, but I decided to just let them shine away.

This was the first thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen this morning.

See the candles in the little houses?

All the little votives still going!

And this brightness operates by remote!

And to all a Good Night!