Belated Decorating Session // Christmas Cookies 2025

 I dropped the ball this year when it came to decorating cookies.  There were several times that I thought about making the dough and icing and then decorating them together, but something else would come up.  Before we knew it, it was New Year's Eve and we still hadn't decorated cookies together.  Since Marissa was leaving on the 2nd, I finally got it together and made the cookies on the 31st and then we decorated them as a family on New Year's Day.  (Does it still count as a Christmas activity as long as it happened at some point over winter break?)

A New Year Eve's Celebration // Good-Bye 2025

 We invited the "neighbors" over to celebrate New Year's Eve with our family.   I put together some lights snacks and Dawn offered to bring over deli pizzas and some drinks.  

They also brought over a couple of card games; we found a new favorite called "Bing, Bang, Boom".  It's a quick card game that doesn't take a lot of skill so we had a lot of fun playing several quick rounds.

We also just enjoyed talking about all of the latest updates and laughing together.

Melayna left at 9:45 because Youth for Christ was hosting a Worship Night from 10-12 p.m. at a place downtown and then she was planning to head over to her friend's house to sleep over.  As you can see, she is just so sad to leave us for the night.  LOL

As the ball was getting ready to drop, we poured our grape juice and stood around to toast in the New Year.  

Did you know that they make edible sparkle to "fancify" your drinks?

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

IT'S 2026!!

"Dear Lord, we thank you for walking with us through the past year.  Thank you for the ways that you have grown me and my family and how you have met us all along the way.  There were some really difficult things that we walked through during 2025 but you never left our side.  As this new year begins, help us to place what lies ahead into your mighty and capable hands.  Help us hold loosely to our hopes, questions, and plans, and trust you to lead us through 2026.  We pray this in your loving name, Amen"

Merry Christmas // Christmas Morning

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We certainly took our time waking up and getting around on Christmas morning, much to Nolan's dismay. He is always up around the same time and he was quite annoyed that his college aged sisters slept in a bit on Christmas morning and so we didn't sit down to open presents until around 9:30 a.m.  For a very excited young man, that is a very long time to have to wait!!   Thankfully we did have cinnamon rolls to enjoy while we waited.  (Thank you to the Howett family next door for blessing us with those rolls once again this year!)

Melayna read the Christmas story for us to start our time and then we spent the next two hours just going around and opening our gifts one at a time.  I didn't take any pictures of us opening gifts this year because I just wanted to take it all in and just enjoy being present in the moment.  I do have to say that it was a wonderful morning watching each one as they excitedly opened each one of their gifts and then even more excitement as they watched their siblings open the gifts that they had bought for each other.  All of the kids put so much thought into what they bought for each other (and for Noel and I) and I was once again just overcome with the love that my family truly has for each other.  What a blessing to my heart!!  At one point Marissa commented on how happy the morning made her - and not because of any gifts that she had received - but just because our family is the gift!

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Morgan received a weighted blanket, a weighted stuff animal, a super cozy oversized sweatshirt, a new study Bible, several coloring books, reading books, and some gift cards.

Marissa received running shorts and a running vest, a couple of books, a large organizer for all of her nail accessories, candy, nail polish, a planner and some gift cards.

Melayna received a comforter for her dorm, fairy lights, a happy planner and stickers, books, her favorite candy and drinks, and a steering wheel cover that has been on her list.

Nolan received a new Mario game for his switch, two book series, storage containers for his bead business, his favorite candies, and several gift cards.

Noel received a new pair of OG converse shoes, a Grace College sweatshirt, his favorite candy, some gift cards and an activity calendar that has several places and activities to do in the state of Indiana.

I was blessed with a new planner, magnetic metal measuring spoons for the kitchen, bamboo cooking utensils, a new waffle maker, a sweater and a new cutting board (which Noel will have me design and then he will make it for me).

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We really did go pretty simple once again this year, but by the looks of all of the paper on the ground, we almost felt guilty with everything that we bought and opened. 

I did take one picture of Noel's converse shoes.

And then later, as we were headed out the door to go to the "H" family Christmas, he came around the corner in an outfit that the girls all approved of.  They said that he looked really hip and that he should start dressing like this morning often.  LOL

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After all of our gifts were opened and cleared away, we headed over to Noel's mom's house for lunch.  As soon as we walked in the door, we put our food down on the table and then we were asked to come into the dining room to have our pictures taken.  Then all of the grands had to sit on the stairs and then all of the kids sat on the stairs.  

As you can see from the various looks and expressions on our faces, we never get any warning as to when the picture will be taken.  It's always a surprise!!

After the pictures were all taken and out of the way, the grandkids sat down at the table and made some origami money while the rest of us finished getting lunch ready

And then more pictures were taken as we all sat down to eat.

Later in the day, we all gathered in the living room to open stockings and exchange our gifts.  

And then the grands were able to play a couple of games before everyone started heading back home to their own houses for the evening.

Christmas Eve Activites // The Rest of It

After the Christmas Eve service came to an end, we all got into the van and drove over to the neighborhood that is known for it's elaborate light display but there was a line all the way through the housing edition and backed up onto the main road.  We decided to drive over to the city's park and walk through their light display first and then we would come back to see the house.

Our 2025 Christmas Eve selfie

After we had walked two laps through the lights (and witnessed a proposal), we drove back over to the neighborhood with the decorated house and we sat and listened to four or five songs before heading home to open stockings.

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Noel held out extra long this year on letting us open stockings, but as tradition would have it, he eventually did give in and we were all able to open our stockings together.  (Each year our stocking stuffers seem to get bigger in size and oftentimes they don't even fit into the actual stocking so we had fun unwrapping large boxes with tiny items wrapped up inside that were just sitting below the stockings).  LOL

After the stockings were opened, we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and then we all headed off for a good night's sleep as tomorrow would be a big day.