Christmas Day 2017!

Merry Christmas! We enjoyed having Carolyn with us over night. The morning was pretty relaxed, opened our stockings, many gifts from relatives afar and ate our delicious breakfast casserole and a home grown orange, we finally picked one of our oranges, the trees we planted are bearing only a few fruit so far. My Mom sent lots of presents and sister Terri sent a box full too! Morning hugs:

Santa brought AA a few gifts (watch, LEGO and book):

Carolyn gave us P.F. Chang gift certificates plus a bottle of Courvoisier and champagne. She made homemade Maine blueberry jam for pie filling and apple butter. She gifted AA with Barnes and Noble gift card, music CD ad a movie, Neverending story.
New ornaments for our Christmas tree:

Orange is ripe on our small tree:

Ginger is very curious - trying to keep up with BB-9E!

AA working on her LEGO BB-8:

We drove to Cathy and Werner's home and arrived at 1:15 p.m. Nicole and Jordan were there with Leaa and Jesse arriving at our same time. Christa and Stuart McColm, then Justin and Kilee arrived. Angie, Charles and Ian all were recovering from the flu so did not come. AA playng with BB-9E in the car:

A few photos, didn't get all six girls together:

AA and Livi:

Cathy and son Justin:

We had a nice meal of lasagna, salad and Ford's yeast rolls. We received many gifts including wine, coffee and pictures. AA received clothes, gift cards, an iPad foam rest pillow, Teva flip flops and some aromatic lotions.
Christmas thank you's got out to Carolyn, Leaa/family, Nicole/family, Christa/Stuart, Auntie Jean, Aunt Patti, Miss Penny, Justin, Nana Joy, Bill and Joan, my Mom, Terri/George, cousin Chris Clarke. 
This poem reminds me of how we need to be intentional about kindness, courage, generosity and love all year round, easier said than done!
Somehow, Not Only for Christmas by John Greenleaf Whittier 
Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad.