A Day Filled with Merriment

I know, I know this is the beginning of a brand new year....Christmas is a faint memory to some, but since our Christmas celebration was postponed this year to this past Sunday, instead of ringing in the New Year today, I am still basking in the glow of our merriment.

The festivities began about 8:00 AM with many of us driving from at least an hour or two away. Too bad we couldn't hitch a ride on Santa's sleigh but he was long gone by the time we gathered.

Coffee...definitely coffee began the day of giving, and eating....yes, there was a lot of eating.  My daughter is an excellent cook and it is always a belly pleasing day when she and her husband prepare the meals (notice there was an s on the word meal)...

I wrapped presents until I ran out of tape...but some were rather large so Santa (aka me) just brought them in their packing boxes...heh, when I was a little girl, Santa never wrapped anything. The unwrapped presents were neatly displayed under the tree when we awoke (always, always extra early) on Christmas morn.  So some were wrapped, others not.

And then the frenzy of unwrapping began....

Sam wears his gift wrapping well....

Charlie kept waiting for his....

Mac was getting bored....

Sunny was just content sitting in Brie's lap....

If you are looking for Toby & Cinder...they stayed home.  Between 3 cats and 2 dogs already, I figured adding 2 more dogs to the mix would be just a tad chaotic.  Especially since my little Cinder is not fond of the size of Mac...

There were sweet gifts....

And funny gifts....(these are old fashioned phones that actually plug into the I-phones)  The kids had a good time with these.  Brie is planning on walking thru campus talking on hers and wait for the stares....

I did manage to get a couple of posed shots....me and all the girls PS it looks like my face & my daughter's faces were smeared...oh well, it erased all of the wrinkles.

My grands....

Bailey and her main squeeze....

Hilary & Brandon....definitely Christmas Card material.

Besides the phones, all the kids had little interesting books in their stockings....Brie and Hilary are engrossed in theirs...ever once in awhile one would say..."did you know that...."

And I did mention the eating didn't I....from breakfast to snacks to dinner, a sublime spread, a taste fiesta.  

By the end of the day everyone was tired....even the toys.

And since this is New Year's Day, I want to share a lovely sentiment with you on this day of new beginnings....

May Light always surround you;
Hope kindle and rebound you.
May your Hurts turn to Healing;
Your Heart embrace Feeling.
May Wounds become Wisdom;
Every Kindness a Prism.
May Laughter infect you;
Your Passion resurrect you.
May Goodness inspire 
your Deepest Desires.
Through all that you Reach For, 
May your arms Never Tire.     ~D.Simone

Happy New Year everyone!!

Until next time.....