If I could be a Child on Christmas Morning...

Randy and I would have been alone on Christmas morning, except Emily and Joe invited us to their home for a Christmas Eve Sleepover. This was to be their first Christmas together and they wanted to test out their new family traditions.

So... If I could be a child on Christmas morning...

I would wake up and find my stocking outside my bedroom door.

It would be filled to the brim with all kinds of fun doo dads!

After searching through my stocking and eating a candy or two, I would wake "Mom and Dad"

It would be WAY too early for them.

I would wait excitedly at the top of the stairs and sing the mandatory carol or two

while "Mom and Dad" lit the Christmas Tree.

After hearing the, "OKAY" I would race down the stairs to find a room filled with Santa Surprises!

And for Randy and me...

A Mountain of Food Storage! Everything you could think of from the basic to the tasty. It was more than overwhelming!

You see... we've had a pretty intense year.

Randy, with hundreds of others, lost his job nearly a year ago, the result of a nasty corporate bankruptcy. He opened his own business. It is amazing that it has held its own in this tough economy, but we've had to be quite resourceful with our use of money. Our food storage has been a virtual life-saver, but as you can imagine, we are running a bit low on the good stuff.

It wasn't Santa at all, but our Own Children --  they pooled their Christmas money.

Each one wrote us a love letter. It was IMPOSSIBLE to read through the "tears in our ears."

Emily and Joe created a series of poems - Haiku, Limericks, Nursery Rhymes. This was my favorite -

Little old Gammie

Sat on her shammy

Eating a plain cup of wheat.

Along came a fountain

Of love and a mountain

Of food from her children to eat.

Such an amazing gift! -- I have dreamed that my children would grow up to be loving, thoughtful, compassionate, and giving. This morning was definitely one of those "pay days" for a mother. It was a Christmas morning I will never forget! Thank You, Sweethearts!

The men made Christmas Breakfast! I like this tradition, Emily and Joe! Wish I had thought of it!

David, Katie, and girls joined us for a DELICIOUS Christmas Dinner.

A VERY MERRY Christmas to ALL!

Ours certainly was!

Christmas Greetings!

Little Sugarplum Dances

First Ballet -- 

 

  Then Tap --

 Congratulations, Lily! You are such a beautiful little dancing princess. We are so proud of you!

Tradition - An Evening in Bethlehem

It's a Collier Family Tradition - Our Christmas dinner together consists of a Collier-style/Jewish/Mediterranean cuisine, the favored dish being Potato Latke. Hey Katie, I actually posted the recipe last year! 

Potato Latke Recipe

And after dinner - 

A Collier Family Nativity

We missed you Payton and Sadie! Luckily, your Uncle David was willing and young at heart!

"And Joseph also went up... unto the city of David... to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child."

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the day was accomplished that she should be delivered."

"And she brought forth her first-born son... and laid him in a manger..."

"And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field..."

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy..."

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."