A family holiday...

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  Ours was spent with family as usual... Christmas Eve with my husband's family and Christmas Day with mine.

Christmas morning was just myself, my husband and my son.  It's the first year that our whole "family" wasn't here for Christmas morning so we did things a bit different.  With my daughter and her boyfriend coming up mid day from his family's celebration, we decided to hold off and have our stockings, yep we still "do" stockings" just before bed so that we could all still share in that tradition.

And under the tree for me this year?  Well a Kindle Fire.... for blogging on the couch or anywhere actually!  I don't plan to use it for reading since my original Kindle from a couple of years ago is still chugging along even after the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read (seriously)... plus the e-ink is much easier on the eyes... but for pure Internet use the Kindle Fire is going to be a fun addition!  So if you receive a comment from me... and it's well, full of typos, you now know why... that keyboard is going to take some "getting used to" by me!

This year, Christmas Day dinner with my family, was at Red Gate Farm.  A surprise windstorm almost slowed things down since our power went out mid-day for about an hour... and no, I wasn't stressed out about it at all... no big deal that 17 people are coming over and you have no power... I was beginning to think that we'd never get visitors at the rate we were going with party "snafus".  Actually, if the power had stayed out, dinner would have gone on with cold ham and homemade rolls... after all of our snacking throughout the day a big dinner probably wouldn't have been missed.

Fortunately for me, and the hope to ever have someone come to my house again, the power came back on in plenty of time and dinner was a go... we all squeezed around the table (and extension of card tables).

Fifteen of us in all... and yes, I purposely blurred these shots... since I assume nobody really likes their photo on my blog with photos of them actually eating but I kind of forgot to take pictures... or maybe it was because I was a bit busy in the kitchen???

And the new year will be bringing some changes to our family and to Red Gate Farm...

My daughter and her guy?  Well, they had an announcement when they arrived...

They're engaged!  A wedding is already in the planning stages for the summer, the setting is will be spectacular since they are planning to have the wedding at his parents' home... with this gorgeous view.

Life is a bit of a whirlwind here these days between the holidays, the be-here-before-you-know-it wedding, and the fact that my son has purchased a house and will be moving out in the next few weeks, well after a bit of painting and fluffing by me... of course!  And I suppose a bit of hammering and sawing by some others...

Unsure how I feel about the empty nest... but I do know... 2012 is going to be a little bit like a roller coaster ride!

Comments

  1. wow, it sounds like you had a busy Christmas. an engagement ... that is so exciting. i rather enjoyed the blurry photos ... pretty neat look. so happy that your party get together went through even though you had power issues ... i'm sure that was an interesting event. (:

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  2. Hi Chris, I enjoyed your story and your photos.. and wow, you are right about lots happening in your family!! I'm glad your son isn't moving far. My daughter moved 2000 miles away and took my granddaughters with her, of course.. and I'm having a hard time missing them. I'm glad I found your blog.. Teresa from Oregon..

    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*
      *H*A*P*P*Y* *N*E*W* *Y*E*A*R*!*
    *:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*

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  3. Your holiday looks and sounds wonderful! I love the blurry photos! And what exciting news! The wedding will be such fun to plan and the location is just breathtaking! Enjoy every moment!

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  4. Sounds like a great Christmas you had ! Awesome photos ! Hope you and your family have a Happy New Year !

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  5. How very exciting to have a wedding to plan for! It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas and we still do stockings too...and always will! xo

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  6. Exciting times! Best wishes to the future bride and groom! Sounds like a wonderful Christmas for all.

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  7. Your pictures are lovely. Looks and sounds like a great holiday was had by all at the Farm. Congratulations to your daughters engagement. And sons new house. Wow, 2012 is going to be busy for sure!!

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  8. Sounds like 2012 will be filled with changes and joy . . . ENJOY!

    I love your new "blue view" at Red Gate Farm . . .

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  9. Congrats on adding a new family member :)
    You bet it is going to be a fast ride!
    Happy day!
    xo, misha

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  10. How exciting!~A wedding! Congratulations!
    Your Christmas looks like it was a blast!
    Happy New Year!

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  11. Congratulations!!!! What fun and I can only imagine the beauty that you will be putting in this wedding! Can't wait to hear all about it and see all of your ideas!
    Your Christmas sounded lovely...ours was so nice too! Our power only went out for a bit, but I stuck the food in as soon as it came back on, just in case!!
    happy new year Chris!

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  12. Congratulations and A Merry Christmas to you from Sabah, Malaysia ^_^

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  13. Congrats on the announcement! Glad you had a good holiday. Wish we had some of the snow you got. It just doesn't feel like winter here yet!

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  14. Happy New year and congrats on your son's engagement! Sounds like changes are swirling for 2012... All good!

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  15. Looks like you had a very Merry and beautiful Christmas! Congrats to your daughter, I can't wait to read all about the wedding.

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  16. Wow, Congratulations! Such happy news. That water view looks just like West Beach on Whidbey Island....am I right? ha ha. We lived there for several years. Gorgeous spot for a wedding. Have a blessed New Year!
    Jodi

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