Our final Christmas gathering in the marathon of holiday gatherings was Sunday evening at my parents' house with my Epp family. We ate the traditional meal of sausage, ham, fried potatoes, zwiebach, cherry moos and Christmas goodies for dessert.
Prior to eating, we continued my grandparents' tradition of blessing each other during a mini candle lighting service (we have candles, special wooden candle holders and scripts thanks to my grandma :-)).
Even the youngest in the family, Delaney, did a fine job participating and thankfully nothing but candles started on fire.
After dinner, we gathered for the "program" and gifts. Traditionally, the kids all perform a musical piece, read or recite a poem or scripture prior to opening gifts.
This year the young ones put on quite a performance. Addi and Cambry played piano while Ty, Rylee and Delaney played bells for "Jingle, Jingle Happy Bells".
Then Levi led us in some Christmas songs on his keyboard (there are several pre-programmed in so he felt like he was really accompanying us).
Then Noah played three piano songs for us that he learned during the month of December.
Finally, Rylee taught us a new way to sing "Angel Band". It turned out to be quite a lovely (and long) program. :-)
The kids had a gift exchange and then the adults had one too. It always works out well and there are usually some really good laughs in the process.
Finally, there was quite a bit of "house" talk as many people had questions about what our house would look like and what the floor plan is.
And after we went home, we sighed a sigh of relief that Christmas was over. We love Christmas and we absolutely love to see family and friends, but the marathon of gatherings was tiring for us and the boys. We look forward to celebrating Christmas in a new house next year.
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