Christmas at the Alvarez's, our surprise Williams and Niebrugge's

Thur. We got up early and drove to Shannon's.  We stopped at a shoe store and got are walking shoes that we have shopping for the last year.  We got there just a Shannon was getting home from school.  The pictures below show the kids making there graham cracker houses.  They all did a great job making them then the got to eat them.

Fri. After breakfast LiliMarie and I went to get lumber and hardware for a ladder for her bunk beds.  LiliMarie did a great job using the tools and making it (picture top row).  That night Xander had basketball practice the pictures bottom row.

Friday night we went to a home that had a wonderful Christmas display and other things going on. 3rd row middle shows the hay ride we went on without the hay (I guess you would call it a wagon ride).

Sat. Shannon took us to the campground we would have stayed at if the rig hadn't broke.  She showed us the rest of the base then we went to town. Left picture is the courthouse and city Christmas tree. Top right picture is a vault which has been transformed into a bar. The Hilton bought the bank and turned it into a hotel. Bottom right is a clock on one of the street corners. After leaving main street we went to Jason deli.

Sun.  We went to church then to Lowe's to get paint for the steps.  Top left LiliMarie painting and bottom right her final product. While she was painting Linda, Shannon and Xander played cards (top right).  After dinner we were getting ready to play card and a knock on the door I opened it to fine Jennifer, Mackenzie and Katie. It brought tears to our eyes!!! What an awesome surprise it was to be able to celebrate Christmas with 2 of our daughters!  As we were eating dinner (bottom left) a knock on the door it was Tammy, Hope, Brendan, and Bryce!!!! Now all I can say that was a total BLESSING to be able to have all our daughters and our grandchildren TOGETHER!!  WE were sad to see that Kenn and Chris could not come and to them THANK YOU for sacrificing your family and letting us enjoy them with out yous'e. What a surprise (what a house full). It brought Linda and I to tears Many Times.  The kids all played together very well and went to bed very tired. Once again what a blessing for all the cousins to be together and all three of our daughters to give of their precious time away from their Husbands and activities,  THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!

Mon. I got up and made cowboy coffee cake.  We ate breakfast and then the kids made cookies for lunch.  After we ate lunch Linda, Tam, Jen, and Sha went shopping. Al, Mackenzie, Hope, LiliMarie, and myself played nine hole golf card game.  when everyone got home Linda took the kids in groups and started cooking.  Top left boys making cookies for cut outs. Top Middle girls relaxing and enjoying the moment.  Top right getting ready to make cut out cookies.  Middle left finished cookies. Middle middle making cinnamon cookies. Middle right peanut butter balls.Middle bottom peeling apples and bottom left cutting apples for apple tart breakfast. Bottom right getting ready to go to Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals Park.

                                             They had miles of lights below are some of them.

                                        We found this Christmas tree and took family pictures.

Tues. We got the dough for the peanut butter balls and dipped them in chocolate. 

We were able to play cards. Then we celebrated Christmas eve eve (since the kids were heading home Wed).  We had our corn chowder, pigs in a blanket, spinach wrap, hamburger wrap, and ham pickle cream cheese wrap.  Later Santa came to visit.  We open our cousin gifts then Linda and I got gifts from each family (besides the gift of them being there). We played more cards and the kids put on Charlie Brown's Christmas play.