Merry Christmas #2- Nana and Pap!

Look again....it's not Santa...it's Brooke!

My favorite photo subject on Monday seemed to be little Miss Brookie...all dressed up in her Santa suit and (of course) matching Santa bib. After all of the craziness with the party on Saturday, and then a full day with church and the Christmas cantata and a visit with Pappy Ray on Sunday, Monday was a day reserved just for our family. We've really come to enjoy this special day just for us...and it's only getting more and more special now that our family is growing.

Dad and Jason worked on a delicious seafood chowder for us to eat and Dad grilled up some amazing halibut fillets as the main course. Wow....was that ever good. Nothing we ate on our Alaska trip a few years ago could compete with the seafood feast we put together.

After supper, we enjoyed exchanging gifts with each other. Our long awaited surprise of the pictures of Joshua and Brooke was revealed, finally. How Libby and I kept that one quiet is, in fact, a Christmas miracle. I had made at least 3 different trips to Lewistown and managed to avoid being spotted. We had lied and schemed...but it worked out quite well. I think it's safe to say that Mom and Dad loved their photos...we all cried...but what would a gift exchange be with them if we didn't? Libby and Zig gave Joshua a huge easel to do his crafts on, along with a bazillion art supplies (I'm not kidding) to use to create his masterpieces. He loves it. And I do mean LOVES it. Mom and Dad had some wonderful things picked out for him too--- he's especially fond of his boulder builder and firetruck!

One thing was for sure...there was so much to be grateful for after such a wonderful day. We had given each other the most precious thing we could---- our time. And being together for an uninterrupted, quiet day at home was one of my Christmas 2008 highlights for sure. Thanks Mom and Dad...and Libby and Zig for a wonderful Christmas celebration together.