Since this blog is somewhat of a personal journal,
I thought I would post a little recap of our quiet family times
this past Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
We did have extended family visits at various other
times throughout the season,
but, for the 24 hour period
late in the afernoon on Christmas Eve
until early evening on Christmas Day
we were alone as a family.
It was lovely.
On Christmas Eve each year we have a tradition.
Actually, we have a few.
We light the candles.
We (Howie) light(s) the fire.
We (I) make appetizers.
And then...
We eat in the livingroom in front of the crackling fire
while Christmas music plays in the background.
Maybe, toward the end of this year,
I will do a post on the menu,
as it is a special part of our traditions.
But, for now...
you will just find the photos
and the commentary.
I thought I would post a little recap of our quiet family times
this past Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
We did have extended family visits at various other
times throughout the season,
but, for the 24 hour period
late in the afernoon on Christmas Eve
until early evening on Christmas Day
we were alone as a family.
It was lovely.
On Christmas Eve each year we have a tradition.
Actually, we have a few.
We light the candles.
We (Howie) light(s) the fire.
We (I) make appetizers.
And then...
We eat in the livingroom in front of the crackling fire
while Christmas music plays in the background.
Maybe, toward the end of this year,
I will do a post on the menu,
as it is a special part of our traditions.
But, for now...
you will just find the photos
and the commentary.
This is our view from the couch ~
After the food has been eaten
and the kids have been tucked into bed.
I *love* the glow of firelight and candles!
The next morning...
Christmas Day!
We gather, once again, in the livingroom and
have a Christmas morning devotional centering on
the LORD's first coming.
Isn't it beautiful to remember that amazing event?
I forgot to take a picture prior to any gift-opening,
so we took a break mid-stream for the requisite *memory* photo...
for Mum! :)
Handmade cards and notes are a favourite!
Our children shopped secretly this year...
so precious!
Emma opening her disguised gift ~
the boys wrapped their gift to her so as to keep it a secret.
They did a very, very good job!
A plush headed hobby horse ~
next best to the *real* thing!
(Emma *loves* horses)
We are Vancouver Canucks Fans (of course)!
Gigantic colouring books for Fraser and Emma...
I think Fraser is really past this, but he humoured his Mummy anyway ~
wasn't that sweet?
Austin has been doing
stop-animation photography
recently and he was thrilled with a mini-tripod...
he looks thrilled, don't you think? :)
Two tired, but happy and content parents ~
relaxing at home.
It was a quiet day with the children...
we enjoyed the peacefulness of it very, very much.
Was your Christmas Day relaxing or crazy busy or
somewhere in between?
Whatever happened in your home,
I trust it was a blessed Christmas full of joy celebrating
the REAL Reason for it all!
Many blessings,
Camille
24 comments:
So so precious, Camille. Thank you for sharing your beautifully quiet Christmas celebration with your family. Your children are always a blessing to me. And I *love* the picture of you and your hubby...you make a lovely couple.
It looks and sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas.
I'm the oldest of nine. And, so when our whole family gets together it can be a bit noisy. ;)
Most everyone was able to come (held at our home again, this year) and out of the nine of us, only three are married (with children).
Still looking to do one more Christmas get together - this coming Friday evening with the other Grandma...
You have a beautiful family.
~Bevy
Gorgeous photos :)
Your traditions are very similar to ours--minus cheering fo the Canucks! It looks like it was just wonderful for you this year.
Happy Tuesday!
Thanks for sharing your Christmas with us. Ours was quiet, except for when the dog ate the chocolate orange! He couldn't wait for Christmas, so he unwrapped all the gift bags looking for chocolate! He's ok, fortunately, but then we put all the gifts in the closet instead of under the tree. Anyway, we focused on gifts of service to honor Jesus' birthday. My daughter prepared New Year's dinner entirely, complete with clean up. My husband offered to wash all the dishes for January.
Wishing your family a blessed year full of grace and peace.
Hi Camille, It sounds like you had a wonderful christmas. Your family is beautiful (so is your house). Its nice that you dont forget the real reason behind christmas... im afraid many families do including mine. Its nice reading your blog because it helps me remember to give thanks. I recently started my thanks list but I missed a week. I do it in my private journal at home though, so thank you for your... guidance I think is the right word.
Justine
Bee-YOU-ti-ful!! Just lovely. I can feel the peace of that firelight and Christmas greenery. So happy for you, having such a wonderful Christmas.
And you are lovely yourself, girl!
Waving and smiling at my way-up-north friend,
Rhonda
Hello sweet Camille :)
Thank you so much for sharing this precious time with us. What a fun tradition! Michael and I usually have a Christmas Eve service. Growing up my brothers and I were allowed to open one gift (already chosen by our parents) on Christmas Eve: A new nightgown or pajamas :)
I love seeing photos of your family, so beautiful. It is such an amazing and heartfelt remembrance reading of our Savior's birth. So precious and it continually keeps me in awe.
I have your sweater Camille :)
Thanks for sharing and have a beautiful and blessed day!
Love,
Sharon
Oh what a beautiful Christmas you had. You have such a lovely family...and you decorated your home beautifully.
We had a wonderful Christmas as well. We just have our kids Christmas Eve which in total is still 11 of us...and then our best friends four of them for chili and appetizers...a tradition in our home...after our friends leave we do our gifts.
Christmas morning is quiet...our dd and husband came in the afternoon of the 24th and stayed until the 28th...so we had a wonderful time.
I hosted Christmas Day for dh's family as all my family live in Ontario. There were 31 of us in all. I thought it was going to be nuts, but I prayed the entire day, and it turned out to be a beautiful day. But boy was I tired at the end.
Have a wonderful day....and thank you for the lovely comment you left on my blog...I need feel so blessed with everyone's comments. Our lives have changed and continue to change so much...we are truely a work in progress:-)
Connie
BTW: our oldest daughter is obsessed with horses...and we too are Canuck fans:-)
Your home looks beautiful. We always have Christmas at home with just us too for a few hours. We don't have to go far though my husbands parents live across the street which makes it nice.
It sounds and looks like your family had a wonderful Christmas spent together!
We also spent a quiet day at home with just the family...just the way we like it! :)
Blessings!
~Nadine
You two look wonderful.I love the picture with the glow of the candles.
~Cinnamon
Dear Camille,
I thank you for sharing a bit of your Christmas Joy. You are an incredible mom with a gift for making every day special.
We are finally up from the flu over here. Hoping these next few days will be quiet and productive.
Many Blessings,
Virginia
Thank you for sharing your Christmas with me Camille! It was so good to see your pictures, and being able to picture in my mind, where exactly your tree is, and where you prepared your Christmas Eve treats! Your family is growing up - thanks for sharing your pictures too! We had a quiet Christmas too - there were only 9 of us around the supper table!
Camille,
What a beautiful Christmas! I love the view from the sofa of the fire and the candles! And the sweet homemade cards! (I got one that said: "Too Mom." Hee hee! And dinner in front of the fire place with Christmas music! How lovely!
And thank you for your encouragement (through your actions) to keep our hearts in the right place - celebrating THE ONE who humbled Himself and came on our behalf.
Blessings to you, sweet friend!
Such a beautiful family! looks like a wonderful holiday. Your fireplace is so very pretty!
Have a great night!
Blessings
Jill
My dad and I went looking for the one and only coffee spot open in town Christmas day :) :) :) It's just a small thing, but we have fun doing that...and just driving around town :) :) Your family is beautiful!!! God has been good to you :) :) Thanks for sharing the photos :) Love and hugs from Oregon, Heather :)
Dear Dianna ~ Thank you for your sweet and encouraging comments...may it be the LORD you see in us! Isn't it wonderful to belong to HIM? :)
Dear Bevy ~ Wow...the oldest of nine?! You are one blessed lady to have all that love surrounding you!! How precious that you all get together and keep family time a priority. Thank you for your sweet encouragement...may the LORD bless you as you continue to celebrate HIM! :)
Dear Heather ~ Can you ever forgive us for the choice of team?? LOL!! ;-) Happy Tuesday to you too my friend! :)
Dear Lois ~ A chocolate-eating dog?? Too funny!! And I *love* your idea of "gifts of service"...wonderful!! :)
Dear Justine ~ Thank you for your sweet compliments! How wonderful that you have begun your thankfulness journal!! It's the counting that matters, not the format...I'm so excited that you've taken up the baton! Please let me know when you reach the first 1000. :)
Dear Rhonda ~ LOL! I had to chuckle at your reference to me as being *waay* up North! My sister-in-love and her hubby were really and truly Waaaay up North for 5 years...they lived in Aklavik and Inuvik, NWT...the FAR North. We are really *just* above Seattle. Thank you for your kind words...they are a blessing to my heart. Waving and smiling back! :)
Dear Sharon ~ I am thrilled that you have left a comment!! I have missed you so much. I agree with you...remembering the LORD's birth and the events surrounding it are precious indeed! How wonderful to know the Risen Saviour! On another note...how fun that you have the same sweater as me! It's one of my favourites. :)
Dear Connie ~ What a lovely Christmas it sounds like you had! Wow! 31 for Christmas Day?? When it's my turn to host I pray too...isn't the LORD wonderful?? What a blessing that it all turned out so well. Thank you for your sweet encouragement...you are a blessing to me. Yes, we are ALL "works in progress"! :)
Many Blessings to you each!
In His Love,
Camille
Dear Chelle ~ Thank you for your sweet encouragement. How fun that your parents are right across the street! That would really make for a quiet and peaceful Christmas Day. :)
Dear Nadine ~ Isn't it lovely to have immediate family traditions? I *love* it too! I'm so glad you had a quiet and peaceful Christmas, what a blessing. :)
Dear Cinnamon ~ Thank you for your sweet words! I *love* candles too...just like you!! :)
Dear Virginia ~ Oh I am so sorry you have had the 'flu in your home! :( What a blessing to begin to feel better and get back to routine! Thank you for your sweet encouragement...it is a blessing to hear from you. :)
Dear Farmgirl ~ Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet words! Oh, please don't remind me that the children are growing up...it makes me soooo sad! (Of course, I am glad they are growing in a healthy way, but I get sentimental over the whole thing!) :)
Dear Jenn ~ Now I know you had supper by the fire every. single. night. during the Season, but we don't! I'm sure your children just *love* it that you do!! Thank you for stopping by my friend...it's lovely to hear from you. :)
Dear Jill ~ Thank you for your sweet compliments. Don't you just *love* candles and a fire burning in the fireplace?? It makes any home cozier I think! Have a wonderful night too! :)
Dear Heather in Oregon ~ I think it's lovely that you have a simple tradition with your Dad and enjoy precious moments together...what a blessing you are to him! Thank you for your encouragment...it's lovely to hear from you. :)
Many blessings to each of you!
In His Love,
Camille
Your Christmas Celebration looks like it couldn't have been any more perfect, Camille!
We had a most wonderful day, also!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your traditions. Wonderful memories for your family!
Blessings!
Dear Raeann ~ Thank you my friend! I'm glad to hear you had a lovely Christmas with your family too. :)
With love,
Camille
Love reading about your Christmas, Camille, and the pictures are such a treat! What a lovely family you have!
Camille,
What a lovely tradition...and your home looks so warm and inviting...truly lovely. But, I imagine the reason it looks so warm is more because of the gracious people who live there and the fact that they honor the One who deserves our praise. Thank you for sharing this special moment.
In Him,
Jackie
What a special Christmas. So heart-felt and lovely and full of meaning. Ours was the same. It was the most relaxing Christmas I think we've ever had. Thanks for sharing your pics and your memories :) BTW, You look beautiful and as fresh as a daisy in that last picture.
Dear Trisha ~ Thank you for your visit today and for your sweet encouragement (as always)! :)
Dear Jackie (Bondservant) ~ What sweet words of encouragement you have left here...thank you! May the LORD truly be glorified in all we do...HE alone is worthy. :)
Dear Jackie (Cheesemakin') ~ I'm so glad you had such a relaxed Christmas too...isn't it lovely when that happens?? Thank you for your kind words...LOL...I didn't feel *fresh* that day, but your comment brought a smile to my face! :)
Many blessings to each of you!
In His Love,
Camille
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