Third Day of Christmas

Yesterday we had our third (and last) day of Christmas for 2018. December 24 was our immediate family's gift exchange, December 25 was with Paul's side of the family, and yesterday was with my side of the family. My Dad and Margie arrived at the hotel they are staying at around 5:30pm on Wednesday night. The kids and I met them at the restaurant at their hotel (Bonanza) for dinner. Then we came back to our house for a little bit before they returned to the hotel. The came back over yesterday at lunch time. After lunch we played a wide variety of games - Mancala, Don't Spill the Beans, Suspend, Quirkle, Spot it, and Blokus. Wendy and her kids arrived at about 5:40pm. I had been cooking on and off throughout the whole day. As I was clearing the table I realized I had forgotten to make the green beans, but I don't think the kids minded that I forgot the vegetables. I served ham, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, applesauce, and cranberry sauce. The seven kids ate at the kitchen table with two candles, and the four adults ate in the dining room. Paul got home from work at 7pm, and that was when we had our gift exchange. Most people were too full from dinner to have dessert, but a few people sampled some of the desserts after the gift exchange. Some were homemade (ex. cookies) and some I had purchased at the grocery store just to make life simpler (ex. the pies).

Oliver and Grace were the first ones up this morning. They got up around 6:45am. It's 8:20am at the moment, and Ian and Adam are outside throwing a football back and forth. Nadia gave Adam the football for Christmas; she bought it at the AWANA store. Although the kids enjoy receiving gifts, I think what they most enjoy is just spending time with their cousins. When the cousins are gathered together I always think of my mom. I know nothing here on earth compares to Heaven, but watching her grands play together was one of her most favorite things to do. She loved them SO much!

We went bowling this afternoon and are planning on seeing a movie tomorrow - probably either Ralph Wrecks the Internet or Mary Poppins Returns. Nadia and Ian got to use their new bowling shoes for the first time. The kids all used bumpers when bowling. Margie and Grace didn't bowl. Grandpa, Wendy, and I did not bowl up to our usual level. Dad had a valid reason - he had shoulder surgery this fall. Ian won the first game when he bowled against Oliver, Adam, Wendy, and I. Only five kids bowled a second game. Ian was in the lead for the first eight frames, but then Susie and Adam both got a strike in the 9th frame. Susie and Adam tied for the first place with 96, and Ian was in second place with 90. During the second game Adam and Ian each had one strike and one spare, and Susie had two strikes. The kids did some art work and Mad Libs while waiting for their turn to bowl. Susie is a very talented artist in my opinion!