Very Merry Christmas Eve

We're in Idaho for Christmas.  Remember, we were supposed to go last year, and ARTIC STUPID BLAST 08 wrecked everything?  (Except for all that fun in the snow and great family time, and memories that will last a lifetime!)  So, we're here now- and had a completely beautiful and uneventful drive over with completely dry roads, so, YAY!

Christmas Eve is also my grandparents anniversary, and this year marked 59 years since they said, "I do."  59 years.  Let's take a moment and contemplate that.  FIFTY NINE YEARS!!!  There have certainly been good times and bad, sickness and health, and richer and poorer.  But here we are . . . 59 years later.  I would not pretend to know even a fraction of all those moments, but I can imagine that this current stage of walking through my Grammy's journey with Alzheimers Disease is particularly challenging.  They are still doing it with grace though- what a gift for the rest of us to watch.  Papa decided he wanted to bring Grammy home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  None of us were sure how that would go since she hadn't been to her home since she moved out in June.  It turned out wonderfully and to be a huge gift for all of us to be able to spend good time with her and have another Christmas all together.

So.  For Christmas Eve we decided to pool our money and instead of getting gifts, we rented a limo and had a progressive dinner.  When we were all much younger, (pre-Joel/kids), we used to do progressive dinners each Christmas Eve.  Papa would drive us all around in their big motorhome, and we made the best memories, so it was quite fun to do it again.

First stop was Aunt Bec's for appetizers and drinks:

Becky's house is absolutely stunning- the perfect place for entertaining!

Father- daughter.  So cute!

Then Garrett yelled, "LIMO AHOY!"  And everyone ran to the windows.  Sure enough, the limo had arrived!  Fancy!

Once we loaded in the limo we headed to Uncle Chad's for salad (and more drinks!!).  Chad has just bought a new house, and it's so nice.  We're all so excited for him!  He hasn't even officially moved in, so it was very generous of him to host part of the progressive dinner.

Two of my favorite boys!

My there are lots of pets in Idaho, lots, and my kids love them all!  This is Uncle Chad's dog, Martin.

We loaded into the limo again and headed to the Holzschuh's, (where my family stayed for the duration of our visit), for our main course- prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  Neither Mar or I had much experience or confidence with prime rib, but she did an awesome job and it turned out SO good.  Just mouth watering!

My mom and Uncle Thom

We visited awhile before we left, and my mom read the kids a Christmas story from when she was a kid.  Then they opened and got into new Christmas pjs

Our last stop on our progressive dinner was Papa and Grammy's for dessert.  We had lots of yummy things, and my boys loved the train that Papa had set up for them.

We had such a nice evening.  I love my family so much, and am so thankful that my kids (and Joel!) know them and love them too.

Back at Aunt Minnie's, we did the last of our Christmas Eve traditions- the kids open a Christmas book, and Joel reads it to them before they scurry off to bed.

So cute in their new pjs!

And to all a Good Night!