CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN

 Tuesday we headed to Lancaster to visit Larry's family. We had breakfast with his sister, Barb, and her husband Tom. Then we went to see Brady, Irina and their new baby. We notice there were patches of snow on the ground from the day before. They had a lot more accumulation then we had in Philadelphia.  

Ksenia is only two weeks old.  

After visiting with them we went to Brian's and Dorothy's and took them out for dinner. It was nice Chase was home and could come along. He had just turned 21 so we had a little celebration. We stayed at Brian's so we culd visit everybody.  

Our next stop was to Mystique and Eric and their family.  Averie , Ashtyn and Hunter opening some present we gave them.

My son Bob had gotten this Santa after Christmas last year thinking it could go outside. It sang and spoke and was only to be used inside. Lynda had it in her house this year but was not thrilled with it. So Bob gave it to Mystique and the children really like it.

Hunter is really into dinosaurs. He knows all their names and everything about them.

Averie had gotten makeup from Santa and is loved putting it on. Maybe a little young for that? She is a natural beauty.

We went back the next day and helped make terraniums. They all had gotten kits for Christmas. They had to paint the figures and then put in the earth, seeds, and stones. Larry helped Averie.   

I had helped Hunter and Mystique had helped Ashtyn. 

Hunter's dinosaur one.

Ashtyn's unicorn and castle.

They love to rough house with Grandpa.

We had given them the hopper ball. It is fun outside but I am not sure about playing with it inside.

With all the toys they got for Christmas the boxes were the best. 

CHRISTMAS 2021

My Christmas cactus were all in bloom the week before Christmas.

These were just starting to bloom.

After Christmas Eve services at our church at 11 AM  and outside at 2, Larry and I opened our gifts. He gave me a whole set of cookware for my new stove. 

I had hidden this box in the garage and then wrapped it and hid it in the corner of  the room off  our bedroom.. He never saw it. I think it is an invisible box. Lynda and I bought it at BJ's putting it on her charge so Larry wouldn't know about it. She paid for it and one other small item and checked out at the door. After wrestling it into the Prius. Lynda looked at her receipt.and realized they had never charged her for the chair. Why the girl checking at the door didn't catch it we will never know. We had to go back in and explain it to them. Yes we are honest. After all that Larry put the chair together and decided he likes his old one better. So we took it back.

Christmas morning we left the house at 3 AM and headed to the airport. Our flight was on time and we were at  Lynda's outside of Philadelphia at 10 AM. We only had a little problem with the rental car from Budget. We had paid in October for a Prius. There wasn't one but at least we did get a car.  

Christmas Day was rather warm in PA but on Monday there were snow flurries. You can't really tell in this picture but it was really coming down. Luckily the ground was too warm for it to stick. Fun seeing snow. 

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

After all the beautiful and creative trees we have seen I still love the tree in my living room the most. Each ornament holds a story and means something special. I am glad Lynda was here to help decorate it and to enjoy my Christmas decorations. 

Lynda flew home on December 7 and we will fly on  Dec. 25 to spend time with our families. 

Merry Christmas.

 

GAME TIME

Every evening we would play these two games while Lynda was visiting. Larry would play Sorry and then Lynda and I played Rummikub for hours.  I hadn't played Sorry since I was little. It still is a great game. 

 

DRAWN TO LIFE

We went to Disney Spring with Lynda to go to the 5 o'clock show at Cirque Du Soleil.
 

We went a little early so we could walk around and do a little shopping. The Lego store has the most amazing displays of Lego artwork.

Of course there was the Disney theme.

Drawn to Life just opened in November. 

We had seats right by the stage. Before the show began there is entertainment. The pillow on stage was being silly. 

Four children were chosen from the audience to draw a pictures.  The theme of the show is a little girl who connects with her father through drawing. He has died and she has to find healing through drawing.

We could really see all the actors faces, and since there are no words it really helps to tell the story.

The start of the show. I was too mesmerized during it to take a photo and we had been asked not to. The athletic ability, the character development and the story was outstanding. It was a little pricy but I would highly recommend seeing it. Glad Lynda wanted to go.

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Lynda and I were able to enjoy the Christmas concert at the Performing Arts Center in Clermont on Saturday Dec 4.  It was Lessons and Carols put on by the Montverde Academy. Some of the  elementary children joined in for a few carols.

Ben Gulley and operatic grande tenor and Callie Day an acclaimed gospel and opera artist were special guest performers.

Listening to the readings from the Bible of Christ birth and the singing of the beautiful songs got us in the true spirit of Christmas.
 

NIGHT OF MILLION LIGHTS

Sunday night we went to Kissimmee to Give Kids the World Village for Nights of a Million Lights.  They really do have a million lights. We went last year, but there were no children staying in their facilities. This year there were children their, so we could only walk around part of it.

I was glad Lynda was able to experience it.

The part we were able to walk around had lots of really decorated houses and their was music playing and the lights danced and changed colors to it. You were surrounded by it.

This tree had balls of stars hanging on it. When a child stays at the village for their Make a Wish week in Central Florida they get to hang a star in their Castle of Miracles.

Picture with Mister Snowman.

Christmas Tree Trail with lots of pretty trees.

There are lots of corporate sponsors.

Ripley's Believe It or Not even had an upside down tree.

Throughout the village there were signs that gave you information.

There was a tram that took us through the part of the park where families were staying. It is 89 acres of land so it was good not having to walk it all.  It was narrated so you learned a lot of information and encouraged people to  volunteer.