It's just ME and the house again. I woke up this morning to quiet. What the heck. After a good healthy dose of hearing little voices and little scampering feet for a week...total quiet was weird. Actually, it was the second day of quiet for me. My daughter Julie and her family left on Saturday morning...early. They drove back to Short Hills, NJ through some fog on the way and didn't get home until quite late....after midnight. They left the car packed until the next day and just went to bed; but they called to say they got home safely.....THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
My other daughter Jory and her husband flew home yesterday and got home fairly late themselves on the opposite coast and called when they landed in San Francisco...THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
So, by last night my house was back to it's normal quiet self. My daughter Jenna, and I got everything back to normal and proceeded to put together a Christmas jigsaw puzzle that Julie brought to work on, but never got near finished. Now it's all over my dining room table. Some of US are fanatics for these things.
We really had a great time here at the DJ house. We had WAYYYY too much food. Jesse made ham for Christmas dinner, and it was delicious. It's gone! Well, but for one little slice. There were MANY, MANY yummy omelets made during the mornings when everyone was here....if you like those things. (I don't, but that's another story....and another post from a long time ago.) But for those who love eggs.....NIRVANA....thanks to Jesse and Chris.
Bella and Bastian kept us entertained every second...non-stop. I watched everything they did...and listened to everything they said. They just had so much to say. Bastian wanted to watch his Thomas the Train all the time...or play with them or his Diego stuff. Bella wanted to play with her Pokemon things or watch her shows. Bastian told everyone he loved them....but loved calling us by other names and laughed when he did. He sang "Jingle Bells" for us numerous times....and we had a special show from Bastian, Bella and their second cousin, Lili on Xmas Eve when they all sang for us......but the performance was cancelled several times by their frustrated director (Bella) until we finally convinced her....'the show must go on'...even without much rehearsal.......OH, too cute.
Here's some photos early on Christmas Eve day when Bastian and Bella were helping make Gingerbread cookies with Aunt Jory. I don't have many photos yet. Aunt Jenna took more movies rather than photos, but I'm hoping to get some more from various other sources like Julie or Jory.
Christmas morning was crazy. Aunt Jenna and Uncle Joe got to the house before 8:00...following instructions. Grandma had already made a pot of coffee...I know my priorities. The tree was so covered in presents, you could barely walk around it. Stockings were stuffed, and Bella finally couldn't stand it another minute. Thank God some of us were downstairs already. There had been some concern as to what chimney Santa would come down at Grandma's house. She originally put the plate of cookies and carrots by the one in the office because the one in the living room had candles and stockings and snowmen all over it and Bella didn't think Santa could maneuver coming down that one without ruining Grandma's decorations. I told her Santa was like magic, and that he had to do it all the time...but just to be sure, I made a little path through my candles to make it easy for 'ol Santa. When Bella saw that Santa had eaten some of the cookies and the reindeer had eaten all of the carrots she left for them, her eyes got like saucers. Life was good.
We all felt very blessed. The kids made out like bandits....as usual. Our last present is usually one from Santa for the whole family...and usually something directed at trivia, since we all love that so much. This year I wanted to have something that would really be fun for us all....and active if possible. So Joe, Jen and I decided to get a Wii and some games for it. I think it was a really good idea. We've already laughed our guts out just making our personal profile people for it. We've played some sports, carnival games, party games and a game that is like Jenga called Boom Blox....just so much fun. Even though it was a little more costly than what I would normally opt to spend on top of everything else for Christmas...I think it was worth it.
So basically, that's my update. I miss my babes already. I miss their little voices, their hugs and kisses...and their little faces. They did leave a few things behind that I'll be mailing back to them. There's three things they left behind that Aunt Jenna and I won't be mailing back to them.....1) the colds they gave us, 2) some very special Xmas drawings, and 3) the bright eyes, the squeezes, the kisses and the memories.
Here's a few more pics....
HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!!! Health, happiness, peace and love to us all..... Love, Joy
Oh, that sounds wonderful!!! And you have redheads! Yay!
My daughter and I went to Epcot for the Candlelight Procession. That was wonderful!
Ella is coming New Year's Day...just three days away...then we'll be going back to Disney to the Magic Kingdom. I can hardly wait to see her over there...I can just plain hardly wait to see her.
Before they come, though, I have ten people coming for lunch tomorrow, so I guess I better get with it.
Posted by: Beverly | December 29, 2008 at 02:21 PM
It all sounds so delightful. Little ones sure do make Christmas, especially when they are your grand kids. Love the photo of you and Bastian, guess that was the only photo of you.
Sure has been fun watching them grow up.
Happy New Year to you, may it be a healthy and happy one for you and your family!
Posted by: janeywan | December 29, 2008 at 03:38 PM
What a lovely time you had & Bella & Bastian are absolutely precious!!!! You are blessed!
Posted by: Kay Dennison | December 29, 2008 at 04:10 PM
From the photos I can tell you had a marvelous Christmas.
I was thinking about getting a Wii Fit for myself as a New Year's gift to me.
Happy New Year to you Joy.
Posted by: BearNaked | December 30, 2008 at 08:53 AM
One of my granddaughters is a redhead tho not a real carrot top like your two! Lovely pix.
With our bunch gone, it seems quieter around here, too. I did a major cleanup and am having friends over to help me make the transition.
Posted by: Marianna Scheffer | December 30, 2008 at 12:32 PM
What beautiful grandchildren you have and what a very special Christmas. It reminds me of Christmas's past and I feel a big dose of nostalgia when I read about yours. Mine was quiet with just my son, but he did bake a ham.
Posted by: Darlene | December 30, 2008 at 12:51 PM
What beautiful photos of you and your grandkids. Gave me a smile today to see them :) They are beautiful
Posted by: Rain | December 30, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Happy,happy times, dear Joy! Thanks for sharing!
Those kids get cuter and cuter!!
Happy New Year!!
Love,
Junie
Posted by: Junie Rose | December 30, 2008 at 04:27 PM
How fun to read about the Christmas visit from your kids and grandkids. I imagine the house DOES sound quiet with them all gone, but you clearly have wonderful warm memories of your time together. Thanks for sharing them and the photos you do have with us. Happy New Year to YOU too!
Hugs and blessings,
Posted by: storyteller | December 30, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Happy New Year, my dear, dear friend!!!
Posted by: Kay Dennison | December 31, 2008 at 10:17 PM
HAPPY NEW YEAR, JOYE
Your Christmas was delightful and those precious grandchildren are so beautiful.
Mine are older but still fun.The ones here in Atlanta live just 10 minutes away from us and our daughter and SIL came with their 2, Sam 12 and Susanna 10.
Our son came with our DIL and their two ages 10 and 8.
We all just did children's gifts this year. The youngsters loved their gifts and then we had a delicious Christmas brunch.
We are so fortunate to have had these 4 grands so close. We have been here to keep the when needed and love them to pieces.But they are growing up too fast.
Posted by: chancy | December 31, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Paul Nichols | January 01, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Happy New Year, Joy!
Christmas is so much more fun with little ones around (including the noise, lol). Your two g-kids have certainly grown this past year...what cuties they are!
Posted by: Darlene | January 01, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Happy New Year Joy, let's hope and pray for a good one.
Posted by: Peter | January 01, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Happy New Year, Joy! How odd the silence must be after a week of family filling up every nook and cranny. I could almost feel it, as you described it. I'm glad the kids made it home safely.
I love the pictures, and will look forward to seeing more as soon as the kids forward them to you. It sounds like you had a spectacular Christmas. May the time pass quickly until you are will them all again!
All the best to you in 2009!
Posted by: buffy | January 01, 2009 at 08:46 PM
*Sigh*....yes, Joy....life IS good. Our children and grandchildren make it that way. So many wonderful memories. May 2009 bring you many blessings....some requested and at least ONE unexpected. Big hugs and love to you.
Posted by: Val | January 02, 2009 at 07:05 PM
Hi Joy! Haha...you've still got our voices! Wishing...good surprises for 2009! Take care and LOL.
Posted by: lea | January 03, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Hi, Joy...it's me...your long-lost blog-friend...who's vowing to do better in '09. ;) Sounds like you had a great time with the family. We spent part of our holiday in Portland and had a lovely time up there. Thank you for always hanging in there with me...even when I end up neglecting my blogging for awhile. Looking forward to reconnecting on a more regular basis this year. xo
Posted by: Marilyn | January 03, 2009 at 11:49 PM
I'm sorry to be getting here so late for this post!! Happy New Year, and I'm sorry about the colds they gave you.
Peace and quiet after the family leaves is wonderful, isn't it - until you start missing them.
Posted by: kenju | January 04, 2009 at 01:54 PM
It sounds like you had a really great time!
And you've reminded me about the jigsaw I planned to start but didn't ...
Hope 2009 is extra-specially brilliant for you.
Posted by: Liz | January 05, 2009 at 02:23 AM
Dear Joy ~~ Lovely photos of Bella and Bastion. They are sure growing up. I am glad you all had such a wonderful time together, and it must be differet, ow there is just you. I am so glad you liked the ice cream story - it wwas a nice one.
I hope 2009 will be a very Happy,Healthy and joyful year for you my dear friend. Take care,
Much love, Merle.
Posted by: Merle | January 06, 2009 at 09:35 PM