A Blessed Easter To You And Yours

I can't seem to get these to post in the correct order, but it's fairly easy to tell what the order is!
THIS is what I shall be missing on Sunday.
Celebrating Easter without these lovely people, and all the rest of my family.
But clearly it is still Easter, so we shall all observe the holiday in our own homes, just like you.
He Is Risen!
He Is Risen Indeed!

Annual Extended Family Christmas Party

There was a game on.
Youngest Son, Pretty Good Nephew, and Jonge.
If they look expectant it is only because they are waiting to eat!

Down South Sister and her Son-in-law, in a different part of the house, also waiting for food.
It's a good thing we all like to eat, because we have a TON of food to work through.

And after that, Christmas Goodies!

Hmm.., I thought of it for months, but never did adjust the swag on the mantel.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason Daughter-in-law is explaining the finer points of bad taxidermy to Famke. 

This is not a regular Christmas tradition, at least as far as I'm aware. 

Normally I do not post pictures of people eating, but since we did so much of that it was impossible not to.

I'll just say, there was not much food at all left at the end of the day.

Treats and present opening followed.

Seriously. All this girl wants is LEGO, and she was not disappointed.

Six kids on one footstool. 
No room for the seventh one, as he is adult-size now.

 LEGO seems to be the gift everyone enjoys (even me!).

Don't we appear to be having a wonderful time?
That is because we are.
We are having a wonderful time.

Maybe someone should separate these two? 
Not at all sure what is going on.

I can only hope that you and your family enjoy holidays together as much as we do.
I like to imagine how thrilled my parents would be to know that their traditions have carried on, and that we all truly do love and care for each other.

And for you, I hope your Christmas Season was filled with love and hope for a bright and Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving 2019

This year we gathered together again at Daughter and Son-in-law's home.
As usual, there is a Lion's game, enjoyed by all who hope the Lion's might actually win.
They did not.
Yet, we found much to give thanks for!

Some Thanksgiving I may actually remember to take a picture of the amazing food, but that probably won't happen, as once it is time to eat, who thinks about taking a picture when you can actually EAT!
Not me.

My Kalamazoo and Grant sisters.

The turkey was amazing, as was everything else!
Son-in-law does know how to roast a turkey.

Daughter and Son-in-law make a great hosting team.

Week End Sleep Over

 What a FUN weekend!
Hertsje and Broeder came to spend the weekend with us.

 I'm not sure who had the best time, us or them.

On Saturday afternoon, Uncle Oldest Son came to play.
I had purchased two new Lego sets and the three of them spent HOURS following the directions to get them put together.
All three of them LOVE doing that!
I wonder if uncles ever realize just how much they mean to their nieces and nephews?
This one is like an encouraging superhero who drops in just for fun, or whenever needed to spread his special kind of uncle magic to a half dozen kids who adore him.

He is helpful when needed, but mostly waits patiently while they figure things out on their own.
It does also help that Lego directions are exceptionally done!

 And, everyone knows how good it feels to accomplish something on one's own!

At the end of the afternoon, Hertsje and Broader had something new and interesting with which to play. 

After dinner we went to see the play "The Little Mermaid" at an area high school. 
Uncle's are also good at introducing young children to the possibilities of someday performing, like the greatly talented young actors we saw on stage.

Our Thanksgiving

This year, instead of heading north for Thanksgiving, Daughter and Son-in-law hosted the extended family!

The first thing I noticed when I came in was my grandpa and grandma's library table, all set to hold appetizers.  It was always the first thing I saw when entering my grandpa and grandma's house.  To be sure, I felt the connection.

Oldest Son made Brie en croute with apples and speculaas.  It was amazing!
I could go on and on about all of the amazing food we had, as it was all phenomenal.  It is every year!

I do not know how other people get their pumpkin rolls to roll up "round", but it never lasts long enough for me to ponder it with any depth.

We gave my Up North sister the year off this Thanksgiving.  She deserves it!  Her family has been hosting all of us for DECADES!

Wise people traveled from afar!
On the right is Oldest Son's roomate from college, who is originally from Maine, but lives here now.  We consider him part of the family, since his is so very far away.  And we like him!
On the left is Oldest Nephew who with his wife traveled all the way from Baltimore to be with us this year (i told you the food is always great!). Oh, and I see my Down South sister removing  even more delicious food from the trunk!

Great Nephew!

I was attempting to get a picture of everyone as they arrived.
Because I am super annoying like that.
This is Oldest Niece.  But she isn't old, just a kid really.

Up North Sister passing on the secrets of good gravy to Daughter.

Oldest Son, admiring (or is it envying) his cousin's beard.
Oldest Son had to shave his off this month as he was playing FDR in the musical Annie.

Son-in-law's first roasted turkey.
It was WONDERFUL, just like him.
Well, this is making me hungry!
I'll stop this post now, and hopefully find the time to post a few more pictures of our day, because.., well.., you KNOW that is what I do!
Hope your Thanksgiving Weekend was as blessed as ours!

My sisters and I.

A Few More Family Pictures

Here we are!  Son-in-law only took two pictures of us here, and they are BOTH keepers.

All that's left of the fallen tree trunk we've been posing on for YEARS.
He also only took two pictures of us all in this location and they both came out as well!

Oldest Son and Daughter-in-law

Oldest family member and THGGM

Son-in-law and Daughter

Way back - Jonge - age 12
Middle row - Famke - age 11, THGGM - age 60, Broeder - age 5, Kado - age 9, Me - HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? age 60
Front row - Feintjse - age 7, Hertsje - age 6

Youngest Son and his family

Daughter and Son-in-law and their family

Jonge, posing

Famke, posing too
The younger four were not interesting in posing.
The logs were damp, it was cold out, and there were woods to run in.

All six grandchildren, holding still in one spot

Our kids
This tradition of taking a picture at John Ball Park started on a lovely October day in 1982 when Daughter was one week old.

Daughter and her daughter

I think you know everyone by now!

And then there were donuts.
And cider.
From Robinettes.
THGGM stood in line for 40 minutes to get them.
No complaints from him!
They are worth it!
(Both our family AND the donuts!)