Merry Christmas 2014!
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Part of the the joy of Christmas is in the preparation. We started early in September preparing for our Christmas cantata. Our director selected a variety of music styles to tell the Advent story and urge all to Carry the Light of Christ into the world. As always, we were the ones most deeply blessed through the music. Carry the Light has become a call to action since the cantata.
Excitement mounted as we prepared for the arrival of Jay's on December 22. Our "must dos" included making meatballs for Christmas dinner, painting our gnomes, and of course a few "Santa" chores.
Finally the wait ended. What fun Tom had greeting them at the airport! We had just visited them in Finland this summer, but most certainly Toren had already grown. Tom didn't choose to get in the contest this time.
The Bober's joined us on the 23rd for our annual Lefsefest. What fun we had! All the children took a turn rolling and at the griddle - with no help. The tradition continues and it's a tasty one!
On Christmas Eve we joined the Bober's for a sausage and pierogi feast prepared by Chef Andy, then a candlelight service at their church. What a blessing to make such precious memories!
The grands looked so nice all dressed up for worship.
Worship deeply blessed us with an excellent sermon and
beautiful music, especially Silent Night sung by candlelight.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care and Jolly Ole' Saint Nick paid a visit.
We love the few minutes on Christmas morning before the children go downstairs to open presents. They bubble with anticipation and joy. Our tradition is to read the Christmas story from scripture and pray before opening presents. The children survive this, just barely. Their parents felt the same way when they were little, but the tradition continues. This year Jay blessed us all by giving a wonderful devotion after the scripture reading. Precious memories!
The best presents under the tree!
Christmas day pictures
Christmas day pictures
HURRY UP, SLOW POKES!!!
After opening presents the children enjoyed some outside playtime. For dinner we feasted on our traditional meatball and mashed potato dinner with Norwegian torte.
Over the weekend Jay's visited with friends and worshiped at Christ the King. They enjoyed reconnecting with precious people and memories.
On the 28th, Sarah's, Sally's, and Jay's joined us for a Packer's game and dinner. Having a Packer win was icing on the cake! Game day pictures
Monday was our family play day. The children started at Defy Gravity. We respectfully declined the invitation to bounce, flip, etc, as we prefer to live in good health a while longer. It was the highlight of their time together. Defy Gravity pictures
We visited the award winning North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences where we enjoyed the new Nature Research Center and a 3D movie. Museum pictures
Unfortunately it was raining so we didn't get to take
our turn at helping hold up the world like Papa, Toren,
and Lilja did when we visited this museum in 2013.
and Lilja did when we visited this museum in 2013.
You know they're here when the shoes park at the door. This year two grandpuppies joined the celebration. Dinner pictures
Cousins rock!
Our 14 year olds
Turning 12 in 2015
Turning 10 in 2015
How could our grands be this old?!? This year instead of cooking for them, especially desserts, they cooked for us. What fun!
Toren made Norwegian krumkake.
Ella helped Toren make mint chocolate chip cookies.
Anna patiently separated the blueberries from the pomegranate
and worked hard on the lefse.
Katie made fudge and banana chocolate
chip bread and was very helpful
in meal prep.
Emily made her great grandmother's
traditional apple pie and Andes
creme de menthe cookies.
It is delightful to see our grands grow into such fine folks!
Tuesday was our play day with the Adams. The children asked to visit the Museum of Life and Science. We had great fun there, but it was a little tough for our girlies to realize that they're now the big kids and don't get first crack at holding butterflies when they emerge. It was fun to share the day with the Adams. Museum pictures
Anna scheduled her big 1-0 birthday party to include cousin Lilja. We visited the Carolina Conservation Center where we saw wolves, leopards, tigers, and lions. The lions roared for us. Fortunately Thomas the lion didn't spray anyone. although that was the highlight of Ella and Anna's first trip to the center with us. The party continued at the Bober's home with fun, fun games and of course birthday food, this year grasshopper pie. Gratefully the grasshoppers weren't too crunchy. ;-)
Alas, all good things must come to an end. The Thompson's departed on January 5.
Having our family gathered for Christmas was wonderful! We treasure the memories.
