Family Get-togethers

After church on Christmas day we went to Gerald's sister's place for dinner. Everyone was there, even his niece from B.C. We felt Dad's absence, this being the first Christmas we were all together without him.


Hmm...so much good food. What to try first?



Goofy cousins:




I love this next picture...real, earnest conversation.

The oldest and youngest cousins:

Oma with her oldest and youngest granddaughters:

Then, after dinner was over and the cleaning up was done, the power went out. We spent the rest of the evening in cozy candlelight. Thanks for posing, Alana. :)

Clarence and Jeanette gifted each family member with a personalized keychain, hand-made in Indonesia where they served with MAF for 15 years.

Boxing day was spent with my side of the family. This year we got together at a local Christian elementary school. It isn't often that we can get the whole crowd together and this year was no exception, but it was nice to catch up with the ones who could make it out.

It's simple to keep little boys happy...a few trucks, tractors and some space to drive them...

Some of the kids took advantage of the stage and put on some performances for us. First they did Mary had a Little Lamb, complete with theme music. After that they did Little Bo Peep. You can see her here, along with her giggly sheep:

Next came the Princess and the Dragon. Here the dragon is carrying the princess off to his den:

Then a valiant soldier comes along to defeat the foe. Victory! The dragon is defeated!

Now the soldier gets knighted by the king. (Later on they thought that maybe he should have been given the princess in marriage. Maybe next time?)

Gavin dressed up and told us that now he was the king. He looks regal with a crown, jewels, sash and as a special touch, a banana sticker on his forehead. He must be king of the monkeys. :)

Many hands make quick work of the chocolates: