Best Gifts of All -- Grandchildren!

Well...all of us here around Mountain Musings sure had a fun time over the holidays storing up enough memories and hugs and smiles to last us until we see these precious grandchildren again.

Our oldest son, Micah, and grandson Ethan visited us the week before Christmas, and we loved seeing them both again and celebrating Ethan's birthday! What a great gift it was to have them here!

This is a picture I'll treasure for sure.....Great-Granny at 89 and Ethan at 9 trying to be the first to "Spot It!" They were both pretty quick at this game! Celebrating Ethan's birthday with a Christmas ice cream cake was fun. Aunt Hannah is getting ready to light the 9 whimsical spiral candles: Ethan and Uncle Jonathan kinda like each other...a lot! Can't you tell from this picture they're a real twosome? Uncle Jonathan's and Aunt Hannah's birthday gift to Ethan was a bowling trip for the family. Aunt Hannah had a very fun time bowling with Ethan, and it was fun for this granny to watch them play: Waay too soon it was time for them to leave and time to prepare for the next grandchildren and Aunt Bet from South Carolina arriving in a few days.

Eric, Sarah, and the two boys--Andrew and Matthew, just missed seeing their cousin Ethan in person, but the visits just couldn't be coordinated this time.

Sarah has always been our Miss Christmas, so I planned a special surprise for her and decorated our bedroom where they would be staying. Here's a photo I took of the completed project:

• Merry Little Christmas Barnwood sign was from Kirklands and decorated with colored lights, Sarah's favorite
  
• Red and white quilt was a purchase from an antique shop in Georgia
• Snowman flannel pillowcases from Pottery Barn
• Oxford red stripe sheet set from Lands End
• JOY and NOEL pillows from Hobby Lobby
• Beautiful rectangular house pillow in the middle was made by my friend, Chris, and gifted to me especially for this room because she knew I was decorating it for Sarah. How very special!
  

Here's a close up of that pillow, and it was also featured on A Quilting Life blog: I also purchased a small tree from Hobby Lobby and decorated it for the dresser. Since Sarah was our enthusiastic Christmas decorator when she lived here, I knew she'd love the room being specially decorated: When Sarah arrived, she was wearing an I'll Be Home For Christmas shirt! How appropriate, and I loved it! Here's the little family around the table, unfortunately I didn't capture Aunt Bet on the other side of Great-Granny in the photo:  Everyone took turns playing with the boys. Here's Aunt Hannah pushing them both in a laundry basket!

Grampa read Scripture on Christmas Eve as we wrote our own Lessons and Carols program. Everyone took turns reading a passage and then we each picked a favorite Christmas hymn. This picture of Grampa and Andrew is just precious:

Hannah holding sweet, smiling Matthew:

Eric and Sarah holding Matthew and enjoying Christmas Day:

The family had such a good time bowling with Micah and Ethan that we decided to take Eric and Sarah. Granny Deb was the designated and delighted babysitter while the adults were bowling. Andrew was very occupied watching all the activity taking place. Fun times! Eric helped Andrew learn how to toss the ball in the basket. Go, Andrew!: I wish this little guy could wake up in my bed every morning

If he were wrapped up as a gift, I'd want my name to be on that bag! Can we keep him, Grampa??? Being far away from grandchildren and missing watching them grow up isn't fun, so we enjoy it so much when there's a chance to visit each other.

As you can see, it was a Christmas to remember! We all absolutely LOVED it, and we're still....

~~Deb

Comments

[Sarah H]

We sure enjoyed being with you all for Christmas this year! Loved the room decorations...theres nothing quite like going to sleep bathed in the glow of multicolored Christmas lights. ;)

[Dorothy]

My heart is full as I share in the joy of your time with your children and grandchildren! I loved seeing the pictures & the sweet smiles of each person. God has indeed been very good to bless you with these precious memories that will last a lifetime! ❤️🎄😊

[Sara Brown]

Since I didn't get a family photo of you all this year, I had to look in your blog! I loved seeing these photos of your kids and grandkids! What a blessing! Your decorations for Christmas were also so lovely!Isn't is amazing how those grandchildren melt your heart? God is always so good! Sara

[Cathy]

I enjoyed reading a new post, and seeing all the pix.

I’m so glad you were able to see all your g’kids. Ethan looks like a sweet kid...if pix are any indication.

I DID miss Holly Jolly Bingo this year, but I know it couldn’t be helped that Sarah had too many things going to run it. Maybe next year...yours inspired me, so I had my second annual “Cathy’s Christmas Contest” via FB. It was lots of fun.

Anyway, from our family in CA to yours, Happy New Year! It’s been a tumultuous 2017 for our family, but God has been good, and He has proven to be, just as His Word says, the “...God of all comfort...”

Finally, thanks for the Christmas card...we received it this week.

[victoria]

I know those little guys and their parents had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. We sure missed them here!
Loved all the pictures! Have a wonderful New Year's and hope to see you sometime in the near future.

[Barbara J.]

Oh, Deb, I could go on and on about all the wonderful pictures of babies and grownups! What a wonderful Christmas you had and you'll have many memories to treasure.I wish you all a wonderful new year!

[ANA]

QUERIDA DEB: QUE BELLOS MOMENTOS PASADOS JUNTO A SUS HERMOSOS NIETOS, ESTAN TAN HERMOSOS Y GRANDES, ETHAN YA ES TODO UN HOMBRECITO, MUY PARECIDO A SU TIO Y HASTA USA LENTES, ME ENCANTA ESTA REUNION FAMILIAR, ¿Y LA ESPOSA DE SU HIJO MAYOR? ¿ELLA NO PUDO VENIR? NO SE VE EN LAS FOTOS. QUIERO CONTARLE QUE ESTAMOS TERMINANDO EL AÑO CON ALGUNOS PROBLEMAS: UNA DE MIS HIJAS TUVO A SU PRIMER BEBE POR CESAREA, YA QUE LAS PRESION SE LE SUBIO MUCHO, TUVO UNA PRECLANSIA, CASI MUEREN LAS 2 MI HIJA Y SU BEBE, LA PEQUEÑA ES DE 6 MESES DE GESTACION Y ESTA LUCHANDO POR SU VIODA, ESTA EN NEONATOLOGIA DONDE ESTA SIENDO MUY BIEN ATENDIDA Y MI HIJA ESTA EN TERAPIA INTENSIVA, YA QUE LA PRESION ALTAS LE TRAJO ALGUNOS PROBLEMAS, GRACIAS A DIOS QUE ELLA ESTA MEJORANDO CON EL CORRER DE LAS HORAS, IMAGINESE DEBORA COMO ESTAMOS EN LA FAMILIA, MUY PREOCUPADOS Y ATENTOS A LOS PROXIMOS DIAS PARA VER COMO VA EVOLUCIONANDO LA BEBE, QUE ES MUY PREMATURA, LOS MEDICOS DICEN QUE HAY QUE ESPERAR SU EVOLUCION. AGRADECEMOS A DIOS CUALQUIERA SEA SU VOLUNTAD, EL SEÑOR DA Y EL SEÑOR QUITA. LE RUEGO SUS FIELES ORACIONES A FAVOR DE MI PEQUEÑA NIETA Y MI HIJA CAMILA. DIOS LOS BENDIGA RICAMENTE EN ESTE NUEVO AÑO QUE ESTA POR COMENZAR. UN ABRAZO A LA DISTANCIA.

[Kim C]

I smiled the whole time I read this post. God is so good. I enjoyed seeing all those smiling faces and everyone enjoying the blessings of family. I love how you blessed Sarah with the sweetly decorated Christmas suite! You have a gift for hospitality and everyone seems to be basking in the glow of a loving, God honoring home.

[Chris O'Dorisio]

Oh Deb, you write the most heart warming posts and the love and joy just radiate from each sentence!! Everything looks so festive and beautiful in the photos and the happy smiles are the "icing" on the Christmas cake! :) Your Christmas decorated bed room is lovely! I know Sarah was impressed at how well you put it all together! LOVE the striped sheets!! Never thought of having the decorations even IN the bed! So FUN!!!!! I loved seeing all the photos with Ethan and his aunts and uncles!! What a tremendous blessing!!!! God sure did give you the best Christmas gift ever this year with visits from your sweet children and grands! Blessings to you dear friend! :)

[Tammy C]

Wow looks like you all had a fun time.Nice to see pictures of all of the visiting family.

Bowling looks like it a Girotti Christmas tradition.

Tell Tom Happy Belated Birthday.

Happy New Year!

[Carol]

Such special times. Loved the picture of Tom and Andrew and the Scriptures. Grandparents can have a huge, life-long influence for Godliness in little ones. I was blessed to have had such a grandparent. May it be so for all your grands.

[Carolyn Shortt]

Hearts of joy permeated the blog as I looked at all the Christmas pictures and read all the happy post!

Only grandparents know the joy and happiness that the precious little ones bring!

Glad you had a nice time with your family! Little Ethan looks like Micah! So cute! God is so good to us!

May God bless you and your family with a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2018!