Pick Up Sticks

Christmas Pictures

I thought I'd post some pictures from Christmas - from home and at my BIL's.

This picture is fom my BIL's house in VA.  It is my parents with their grandkids.  My two sons are in the middle and on the right along with my DIL.  The two on the left are my sister's children.

Next is a picture of our tree.  This is my favorite Christmas tree we've ever had.  It is a Frasier and fits perfectly in our tiny living room. I bought a new tree skirt this year and really like it.  It is very simple - red felt with a white scalloped border and appliqued snowflakes.  You'll also notice a stuffed elephant under the tree.  Our dog kept putting this raggedy toy under the tree.

Our dog also helped open every present on Christmas day as well as all his own.  His favorite toy was a stuffed santa which he sleeps on like a pillow.

The cutie pie is my hubby!

Dallas the dog opening presents.

It was a quiet Christmas morning since only three of us were home - our first without our oldest son.  Here is our youngest opening his presents. He's wrapped in his favorite present from his girlfriend - a University of DE fleece blanket she made.

Merry Christmas

We have always celebrated Christmas with my family either a little before Christmas or a little after.  For me, it's not about the day as much as it is spending time with family.  Today was our day to celebrate Christmas.

We all met up in VA at the home of my brother-in-law. My parents drove up from NC and we came from PA - all of us my hubby youngest son older son and daughter-in-law.  And celebrate Christmas we did - with love and hugs and presents and laughs.  It was great to be together - as we don't all get together often enough.  My niece and nephew were there - they've grown so much since the summer - so tall.

And after our celebration we all drove to the cemetery.  Today was the day of another celebration - the celebration of my sister Lynn's life.  This is the first Christmas without her.  She passed away Jan.31.  We held a memorial service at that time.  But her ashes were not placed in the cemetery until today.  It took this long to get everything settled.  So after our morning of family celebration we met in the cemetery and held a small family service.  It was bittersweet - to say good bye again on a day of celebration.  At first I was upset that we would combine these two events into one day - they seemed at such odds to one another.  But as my brother-in-law said - she would want us to continue to grow as a family and continue our traditions.  So we met in the rain and held one another and cried one more time - for our loss - my beautiful sister who lost her battle with lung cancer at 41.

I will always remember today - seeing my 18 year old son racked with emotion and laying a kiss on the tiny plaque with her name - devoted mother, wife, daughter and sister - and whispering good bye - I love you Aunt Lynn.  Almost too much for me to handle.

So goodbye once more - Merry Christmas Lynn - we love you and miss you!

(This picture was taken 3 years ago - the last Christmas that my sister was healthy.  She is with her children - Jon and Allie)