A Jackson-Davis Christmas

When we were growing up, we always had Christmas Eve dinner with our dear family friends the Jacksons.  Now that we're all grown and have moved away (except for me, of course), it's harder to get all of us, our spouses and our kids together.  Still, every Christmas we try.  And this year it was the weekend before Christmas.  Still feels like Christmas Eve.

Trey, Jennifer, Caroline and baby Audrey came to town for the weekend.  Clara was fascinated with Audrey.  She wanted to talk to her, touch her, play with her, hold her constantly.  It was so sweet!

But when baby Audrey was sleeping or eating, Clara was right by the side of her big cousin Caroline.  And whatever Caroline did, Clara wanted to do.

I grabbed some Audrey snuggles when I could; they just don't stay this little and this cuddly very long!

 The kids all got to open a gift...

 And we attempted a group shot with the 2nd and 3rd generations.  Hey, it was the best we could do.

And the grownups, who were trying hard to get everyone to smile for that last shot....

A couple of Jackson family shots.  It was our first year with Baby Jack and next Christmas, Sarah will have a baby to join the ranks!  So fun to watch us keep growing!

One of my favorite traditions is our Happy Birthday Baby Jesus cake.  The kids gathered around to blow out the candles and sing.  I loved watching Clara's face light up.  She was so so excited about celebrating Baby Jesus' birthday and it might my heart soar to see her joy as we focused on the reason for Christmas!  

I love so much about the Christmas season, but traditions like these are among the  most sacred.  So thankful for these memories and looking forward to many many more in the years ahead!  Thanks, Jacksons!

(Last year's Jackson-Davis Christmas is here)

Orm-an-ents

I wrote a few years ago about how special all of the ornaments on our tree are to me and what a special tradition it is that our ornaments all hold significance, memories and meaning.  Some of the ornaments I treasure the most are the ones that my dad made for me in the early 80s and they still get hung every year.  So, while I was creating a December bucket list (which never made it on this blog, sorry), making ornaments together was one of the things on my list.  Cheap, germ free and sentimental.  Sounds like a win!

We stirred up the salt dough, rolled it out and used cookie cutters (except for Robert who gosh darn it is craftier than I am and it makes me a wee bit furious) to make our ornaments.

 Popped them in the oven to bake...

And then waited for Clara to go to sleep before the painting party began (adults only, obviously).  Wine included.

 Here are Robert's finished ornaments.  Sadly, I did not take a picture of any of mine.  But they were pretty cute too!

We gave several to our nieces for Christmas and had some special ones for Clara, too.  It was fun to write the date on the backs of them and wonder if in thirty-some years she will still be hanging them on her tree with the same fondness I do!

Clara and I also made some painted glass ball ornaments. She had fun dancing and shaking with them to swirl the paint inside. 

Clara was so excited to admire, make, point out in public, touch, un-hang, re-hang, and generally adore Christmas "orm-an-ents" this year.  And we never got tired of her sweet little voice saying it.

Georgia Farm

Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we made our way back to Georgia to visit.   At the time we did not know that it would be one of our last visits with Papa, but I'm so thankful for every one of those visits.  Clara and Eleanor had a blast on the farm, taking walks, chasing some animals, and soaking up snuggles and stories with Mema and Papa.  Worth every last minute of that car ride.  

Gingerbread

So, one of the saving graces of cold and flu season quarantine has been opportunities to get together with girlfriends in the evenings and have some time away and adult interaction.  Right after Thanksgiving, my dear Wendi hosted a gingerbread night!  We had such fun decorating the houses.  When we arrived there were these, already constructed (thank you, Wendi!): 

And hot chocolate, ready to drink.

So, we brought these...

And after a few hours of hard hard work.

Ta Da!

Here's my house... not the best there, by far.  But I like it.  

Please, please check out this GUMDROP PUPPY DOG.  Impressive, Anna. 

So much fun!  Maybe in a few twenty years, the kiddos can join us.  Nah....