christmas eve eve dinner!

Great googly moogly!

The Carey Hilliard's on Skidaway just went ahead and gave us the entire back room!

There were only ten of us...

but I guess it seemed like more with four little blonde girls running around!

That's Papa Matt, as the girls know him!

He was holding down the end of the table where the food would eventually be.

Papa's got a brand-new... cap!

I guess James Brown needs to change up some lyrics!

 

And what's that?

A table full of nothing but gift bags!

It was just crazy the amount of gifts there were... 

there were even some for me!

Christina knitted an ocean-themed scarf and Michael gave me an ocean-at-night shoulder wrap with fringe (!) and Melinda made apple butter that I can't wait to try on panettone French Toast!

There were gifts from me, too.

Here's Michael, reading to Alyssa what I had written on the gift tag for her special ornament.

Her left arm is already nearly all healed up from her breaking it - 

just a soft brace, now, no cast.

Looking for Leila?

She's more independent and doesn't have to stay by dad all the time.

Her newly-engaged Aunt Chelsea read aloud her gift tag while Grammy listened in.

And this Littlest Girl?

She's Miyah, of course, and she's standing in her chair and holding the ornament her G'Aunt Tina gave her...

and giving her a big smile!

Psst... I think she likes me!

I think she's making sure that Miss Chlo likes me, too!

That little one does whatever her big sister does, that's for sure, and neither one of them miss a trick!

What a blessing to have this time with them - with all of them...

my first niece and her daughters...

my nephew Michael and his twins...

my outlaw Melinda and her hubby and their daughter...

all family!

i thank You, God!