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| ...and it was already beginning to look and feel like Christmas (hotel lobby) |
Then returned and started prepping our home, one room - and tree - at a time. We had our own mini festival of trees...๐๐ฎ๐
First the LIVING Room ...
Next, the FAMILY Room ...
Then TOP of stairs was The SAMOAN Christmas tree. This is the type of tree during the time Dearie and I were growing up in the islands. A very simple, inexpensive but REAL tree, usually a branch of a bigger filimoto tree, or a baby one. Balloons and streamers were used for decorations. ๐
๐
Aaaaaand then it was Christmas Eve ... and the clan began arriving for a night of fun, games, food, etc., ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐๐
Setting up table for the food ...๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ค
Then the presents ...๐๐
๐
Until it was time for the missionary to Skype, and everyone was back. This is always our Christmas Day highlight!!
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| the elder |
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| ...always a happy and joyous time to chat with the elder/missionary |
After the Skype, we left for our Christmas getaway in Eden (1.5 hrs drive North), a beautiful small town tucked away in a peaceful valley. The children rented a cabin for our 3-day respite. It was beautiful and it was a perfect White Christmas.
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| Eden ... (one of our granddaughters' namesake) |
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| the cabin |
... cabin was warm and cozy
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| love those saddle stools |
...a postcard view/shot (from inside the cabin)
White Christmas
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| while the children had their foods/snacks... we had our own "cabin food" ...๐๐๐ |
children had fun in the snow
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| ... for us it was time just to relax, rest and unwind ..๐คฃ and to ponder the wonders of nature and God's creations, and also to spend time with the children and grandchildren๐๐ |
heading home ...