Our Christmas Day 2008

We had a great Christmas day here at the Jones Junction. We took bunches of pictures throughout the day ... it's difficult to post just a few when there are so many nice ones!

We actually began our Christmas morning down with two of our families deep down in Texas. We connected our computers using SKYPE, and other than the fact that the audio got a bit messed up on the Michigan side of things. we had an enjoyable visit with Sabrina's family as well as Nick's family ~ they spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day together in Austin. The first picture is of Jackson and Karis waiting for Nicolas to launch another rocket balloon, which was actually a gift from the Jones grandfolk to Nathan ... but it was nice that everyone got to have fun with it! And since these two families couldn't make it home to Michigan for Christmas, it sure was nice to spend a little time with them ...

And this is Princess Lottie Caroline, whom we have yet to meet ... isn't she a perfectly beautiful little baby?

Dylan came over later in the morning, and opened up presents with us and then stayed throughout the rest of the day.
I opened my present from Mr. Jones on the Monday before Christmas. I had requested a nice portable stereo boombox so that I could carry it around the house and play beautiful music with the grandchildren ... we used it Monday night to play soft music when Ems, Chris and Matthew spent the night.

I bought Mr. Jones a very cool Train Book when Ruthanne and I were up north for our sisters' retreat last summer ... it actually has a wind-up train and three different track layouts inside the book! I also got him a new crossing signal for our children's train layout, and a few other assorted gifts as well.

Adam and Emily had a HUGE present wrapped up for Grandpa Jones and me. I was trying to guess what it might be for days and days, thinking perhaps it was a really really WARM blanket (wishful thinking) ...

... but it wasn't a blanket at all ... this is my face when I found out what it was! I am very pleasantly surprised!

Matthew received a very cool pirate ship, and Christopher got a space shuttle that can make 30 different space vehicles!

And Emma got a Tinker Bell doll and a princess handbag, as well as an art kit with mosaic shapes and stickers to make beautiful pictures.

We had so much fun watching everyone open their gifts and give presents to each other.

Shane was able to spent the afternoon with us too. It's been quite awhile since these three Pahman men have been in the same room together!
Emma was frustrated with a little puzzle she'd received. Uncle Adam was trying to teach her how to be patient and show her some tricks about putting it back together ...

We had a pretty yummy meal. Everything turned out just fine, and there was plenty of food to go around.

After being snowed in for several days, Mom and Roy were able to come for a little while too!

We were able to fit 10 folk around the table, and the rest of us just walked around and ate wherever we could find room to do so.

Christopher especially enjoyed my Strawberry Pretzel dessert recipe ... he really really liked all of the cream in the middle, but wasn't too crazy about the pretzels on the bottom. Grandpa Jones was in complete agreement.
We decorated Thomas K with my jingle bell necklace. He successfully kept it around his neck even while tightrope walking the neighbor's wooden fence! The day went quickly and happily by. We played with toys, we listened to music, we ate a lot of food, and we enjoyed celebrating the birthday of Jesus for another year. I have pictures from yesterday's visit over at Grandpa Pahman's house ... but I'm too exhausted to post those tonight. Hopefully tomorrow ...