Our two week round-robin Christmas Celebration with Family #3

We traveled from our youngest daughters in Western ND to my mothers in Eastern ND and spent several days with each.  Now it was time to head South to Nebraska for a few days of fun and Christmas celebration with our oldest daughter and family.  It is very special when we can see our loving family at this special Blessed time of year.   The time we receive Gods greatest gift of love through His Son Jesus and the promise fulfilled. 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . .  Isaiah 9:6  

These are special warm hand knit wool socks that I got from my daughter.  I appreciate every stitch and YES, they are nice and warm. 

Below is our daughter holding her very healthy African Violet plant that she got from my mother.  It started from a very small plant. She has her grandma's green thumb. I would guess it is the biggest, healthiest African Violet that i have seen!   

Our 17 year old granddaughter has also inherited the Green Thumb.  She started this from just one leaf and it is doing fabulous.  

In October our family moved my 93 year old mother into a beautiful assisted living apartment at Prairie Rose.  Being close to Christmas I divided up much of the farm house treasures and wrapped a pkg full for her daughter-in-law, 5 grandchildren and their husbands, and  8 of the great grand children.  That was 18 presents I got to wrap and give out as a special gift from my mother.That was a lot of stuff. I am sharing a few pictures of the opening excitement and fun.   

Fun clip on earrings picked out by Great Grandma and  hand made bulletin bead necklace.

Sorting and looking at her Jar of old buttons.  Big sister shared some pretty colorful beads with her.     All three of our granddaughters were excited about all the craft beads from Great Grandma Hanssen.

Hey look!  A "OWL" pot holder.   LOVE IT!

Our grandson looks intently at some WWII souvenir's from his Great Grandpa Hanssen, remembering many of the stories he had told him in the past.

Our daughter with her Grandmothers colander/strainer
 and other memorable items. 


Below our son-in-law is amazed at this vintage leather cigar holder or carrier. He quickly added 3 of his personal cigars. 

It didn't take long for little snuggle bug to sit on her Papa's lap.   Special memories! 

I had to share some pictures of the beautiful Christmas decorations and Advent wreath that is lit for daily devotions.  

One of the things from my mother's home that was given to Charity was a Krumkake Iron.  She was delighted and it was no time and she had two batches of delicious Krumkake made.  She gave some to neighbors and we enjoyed some on Christmas with real whip cream and fresh berries.  YUM!

The more she made the better they turned out.  YUM!

There tree with all the gifts around was beautiful.  I never tire of seeing the Christmas trees.  Charity and Birk still use the ribbon bow with my mothers hand crochet bells as tree ornaments. 
 These were originally made and used on the church pews almost 20 years ago for their wedding,  How special to have you grandmother crochet over 20 bells for your wedding.  

Our 6 yr old granddaughter was getting beautiful with hot rollers for the Christmas Eve childrens worship service. 

YES!  That hair turned out beautiful.  

All dolled up in her pretty Christmas dress.  

Below  is our oldest Granddaughter practicing her piano Christmas corol.  The half hour before the childrens worship was set aside for numerous children playing a special Christmas selection.   It was great to be there to hear our 4 oldest grand-kids play their piano selection. 

Time to capture a picture of each of our 5 grandchildren before the trip to the church.

Our oldest granddaughter. 

Our youngest granddaughter age 6 still wearing her size 4 dress. 

Our beautiful smack in the middle granddaughter. 

Our 9 year old grandson with his spiffy bow tie.

Our grandson who is the very musical is big brother of the bunch. 

All five of our grandchildren dressed for the Christmas Eve worship service.   

Then pictures with Nana and Papa and some with their parents.  

After the Childrens worship service the congregation handed out bags of peanuts and candy for all the children.  Now home the two youngest have to sort and divide.

I love this natural picture of the three oldest.  This was after the worship service and I guess it was snack time.    Actually, I think the blue hanging christmas ball really setts this picture up. 

Christmas morning gifts,  The smallest is for the oldest going from left to right.  The largest was for the youngest.    Good things come in small packages.

Even beautiful Rusty kitty gets a Christmas gift.  "TREATS FOR RUSTY"  He thought he had been such a good kitty he should get the whole bag of goodies and not have to save some for latter in the week or month. 
Pictures below are the children opening their gifts.  You can tell from the big smiles that they are very appreciative and excited about their gifts.  

WOW!  New boots.  Love them!

That has to be the smallest amplifier for a Guitar that I have ever seen.  Believe me, it can put out the volume too.  It will be interesting where he takes his music.












Below, the high school Junior only gets a piece of paper.   What could it say?       What?  a senior ring?  Marvelous Christmas gift!  

The pink scooter works just fine.

The girls each got makeup travel bag with a couple items for their enjoyment.  

We gave mom and dad useful items.  

Reversible hen/chicken/rooster apron. 

Delicious prime rib and corned beef for Christmas day.  I'm sure we all ate way too much and then still snacked on a lot of goodies.  

Time for some doodle, coloring drawing fun
 with a fun gift for the youngest.

This has become a annual fun event for Christmas afternoon, using the spray silly string from their Christmas socks.   

It's a good thing it comes right off!  

Fun day and a nap for dad.  The little one is a good pretender but it was cute. 

Mom showing her Nebraska Husker spirit.  

Our two week round-robin Christmas Celebration with Family #2

Jeff and I left Dec 17th for our round two of our Christmas celebration trip.  We traveled East from Williston, ND to Lakota ND to visit my mother who is now in a beautiful Assisted Living, Prairie Rose Good Samaritan apartment.  We arrived mid afternoon and everything was very beautiful white and frosty.  Not from snow but fog.  There had been many days of heavy fog and this created some beautiful frost art work.    

The unusual frost on mom's bird feeder,this was a 93rd birthday gift in Sep from her granddaughter Melissa Sutton, It is beautiful, reflecting the light and attracting many birds.     

 My mother has a beautiful new tree this year thanks to her granddaughter Angela Steffan. She did a beautiful job of decorating the tree,mom's apartment and the entry into her apartment.  

 

Every morning after breakfast with a cup of hot coffee in hand, Jeff and I  loved  having devotions and prayer with my mom from the portals of prayer. This is a old table that belonged to my grandma and grandpa Hanssen when they were first married.  

In the hall outside mom's apartment. 

Below is the big activity/lunch room at Prairie Rose.  The tree was lovely and we also got to enjoy a well attended piano recital, (beautiful Christmas carols)  while we were visiting my mother. 

While we were there, we had the privilege to attend a advent and also a Sunday morning church service at my home church at  St Andrew Lutheran Church at Niagara ND.  We enjoyed both services and even took part in the Wed advent soup supper.  YUM! The frosty pictures below were taken by the church but i did not get any from inside the church. 

My mother is from a family of 11 children.  There are three children still alive, My mother is now the oldest at 93 and my Uncle Ed (below) is her 87 yr old brother.  We enjoyed a visit from him on Sat. Dec 20th.  Jeff and I also sat next to him at both the church services so we could enjoy his wonderful bass voice. 

My first cousin LeeAnn also came to visit, she lives close by and is a real blessing to my mother. 
   We missed seeing my brothers family this time but hopefully we will catch them on our next visit. 

We enjoyed meeting several of the other residents/friends of my mom from the Prairie Rose apartments.  They are very sweet and help each other if needed. 

 Once again we had a early Christmas with opening gifts.  My mom loved the warmth from the electric throw blanket.  

We pulled out some old wedding gift dessert dishes to serve Bryers vanilla ice cream.

We brought new  pictures to update the pictures of the nine Great Grandchildren.  She loved the pictures from before but they were two years old and you all know how much children change in a year or two.   Soon there may be two more through the adoption process by our youngest daughter Melissa and husband Tim.  What a blessing from God to live long enough to see and get to know 11 great grand children. 

 I will end this post with this beautiful picture showing the Heralding Angel at the top of the tree declaring good news, that our Savior is born.  We look to the day when He will come again and take us all to our home in heaven.   My mom has several nativities on display and you can see one under the tree to remind all of the Christ Child.  In the back ground you can see part of another that is a ceramic Bible with the holy family made for her many years ago by Kathy, her daughter in law.  It is so special depicting John 1 verse 14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Then just next to it is a small clay nativity that was made by her granddaughter Angel many years ago when she was in grade school and given as a special gift with love to her grandma.