Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Savoring the Moments



Christmas Day has passed into memory. And what good memories we will hold! The above photo looks almost posed, but it was one of those candid moments that turned out well. 


When I opened the door on Christmas morning, this little one shouted out, "Bah humbug!" Her parents had watched Scrooge the night before and coached her on the way over. We all dissolved in laughter, for the mood of the day was anything but Scrooge-ish.


This Nana had very little time to sew, but she did manage a couple of sparkly skirts for dress up play. Towards the end of the evening, the 5 year old suggested a dance party in the dark. So we turned out all the lights, other than the tree and twinkle lights, cranked up Christmas in the Caribbean followed by Snoopy's Christmas, and all of us danced in the living room. Joy!


There were presents and food, laughter and games. And a little coloring.


Quieter days followed, but still filled with family and friends. Brunches, movies, walks in the cold (no snow), and more to come. 

How is your Christmas week? Are you planning anything special for New Year's Eve? 

35 comments:

  1. You got some great Christmas shots! Fun times! Our eastern Washington kids returned home on Sunday night and I'm just now getting to the guest room linens!
    We do not have anything planned for New Year's Eve. We will probably be in bed by 9:00 :)

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  2. Hey Lorrie,

    How smart of your granddaughters to realize low lights would really make those skirts shine! It sounds like fun and your photos are wonderful and tell a good story! You are enjoying your time off from school, I can tell. We've had a good Christmas except for the post Christmas bronchitis that has set in. Our weather has been constant rain, clouds and temperatures in the 70s. I don't ever remember anything quite like this before.

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  3. What fun, Lorrie. The days of little ones in our household are over now, but my 23 year old grandson is back for the holiday, so I shall be overjoyed to see him.

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  4. It looks like a wonderful Christmas for you and your family, Lorrie!
    The little ones appeared to have had a wonderful time.
    Blessing for the upcoming New Year.

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  5. All sounds wonderful Lorrie. Best wishes for a Happy New Year !

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  6. It looks like love, laughter and joy where your Christmas theme. How wonderful. The photos are delightful.
    Xo
    Dagmar

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  7. Oh lovely! The photos are wonderful and perfectly illustrate the joys. Loved the dancing!

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  8. Beautiful pictures!!! Grandchildren are the best! We had a great time! Goes by in a wink of the eye! Happy New Year!

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  9. A wondeful family time---I love photos like these. They lift my heart! :)

    Jane x

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  10. We have been busy and lots of family food and fun...just getting ready for some guests that will be staying with us for a few days...those skirts are really cute and I love the Bah Humbug comment!

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  11. Lorrie - not sure how well known he is/was in Canada, but the first pic could be a version of one of those fabulous Norman Rockwell illustrations which graced the many front covers of the Saturday Evening Post magazines back in the forties! I just love it!

    What fun you all apparently had - no littles dancing in sparkly gowns here for Christmas, but the big people all seemed to enjoy themselves at our open house on Christmas Eve!

    We head into town for our usual Raleigh First Night on New Year's Eve - lots of fun music venues in churches, public spaces etc., a parade, fireworks - we'll be home before midnight strikes though and raise a glass to absent friends with wishes for a great 2016!

    Happy New Year to you and your family - wishing you all good health and joyful times.
    Hugs - Mary

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  12. Beautiful savored moments!

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  13. A lovely time indeed - and sweet memories. We are planning a very quiet New Year's Eve - just the two of us - it is a hard time for Don because of sad memories so we just spend time together - being happy to be together and maybe a little planning for the year to come. Happy New Year, "neighbor".

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  14. Some very happy memories captured there Lorrie. Nothing planned for this New Year's apart from resting and maybe if I haven't had any painkillers, a nice glass of champers! Happy New Year xx

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  15. So much fun dear
    Best wishes for the new year x

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  16. Such happy moments and beautiful photos, Lorrie!
    The gentleman in the first photo must be the real Santa, with perfect gifts such as macro lenses... :) I'm looking forward to your flower and ice crystal macros, two things I too would very much like to capture closer.
    Wishing you and yours a very happy new year!

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  17. Good morning. It is very cold, 8. None the less we will be going out today. The build up to Christmas is always so overwhelming and the moment last only a bit and then we bask in the glow of warmth and wonder of it all afterwards. We had a good celebration. We will have over night guests for New Year's. It used to be just one couple, but another couple has joined us and will spent the night too since they travel from so far away. A third couple will come and may stay the night, too. Friends that we see maybe once a year, so we gather at our house or theirs, eat good food, (pork tender loin and wild rice), catch up on the legions of grandchildren we now all have. Interestingly, these are all former students, students I had my first year of teaching way way back. They are now all turning 60. I have a few more years on them. I was a very young new teacher. LOL. I want to thank you for visiting the Garden Spot and always leaving cheerful and kind comments. I am thankful for your friendship. Happy New Year, Lorrie

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  18. Your grandkids are beyond adorable, Lorrie. I'm also trying to savor the last days of my Christmas break. Because I'm a homebody, I prefer to ring in the new year at home. Happy New Year!

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  19. Your grands are just adorable ! :)

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  20. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of the joyous memory making happening with you and your beautiful family. So precious!

    Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2016!

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  21. I agree Lorrie, good memories from Christmas day with the grandchildren and their parents. Our days have been quiet as well with reading, a bit of TV and snow yesterday that is melting quickly today.
    NYE is always just a movie night in front of the TV with popcorn for us but on Jan. 1 we have our oldest daughter and family here for lunch.
    All the best for 2016.

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  22. What fun! I love those sparkly skirts...they both look adorable. Those coloring books are really popular this year! I got both my DILs a couple and even got one for myself! There are so many wonderful designs and some are full of praises and scripture...love 'em!

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  23. O, the kids...they are all sooo adorable ...so glad everyone had such a good Christmas...we did, too.
    O, and for New Year's Eve....I will have my 78th birthday....Oh, dear...

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  24. Anonymous6:19 PM

    Lorrie, how delightful! Bah Humbug! Too cute! Love the sparkly skirts. I'd love to make one for Hannah one day.

    New Year's Eve will be spent quietly at home. I'm not sure I will make it to midnight!

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  25. What precious memories. - Happy New Year.

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  26. How fun! A dance party!

    I'm loving seeing how everyone celebrated Christmas!

    We had a fun family day, and then we had a few days to finish preparing for Emma's wedding! It was beautiful and just what they wanted.

    Deanna

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  27. I just love the photo of the two girls in their sparkly skirts and the caption under it. It sounds simply delightful! Have a wonderful new year. - Judy

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  28. I first thought the picture "posed' too, what a great catch with the camera.

    Glittery skirts whirling in the light of the Christmas tree , sounds like so much fun. I think your granddaughters will always remember this .

    After all the busyness it is nice to settle down to quiet evenings by the fireplace .

    Happy new year 2016 to you and yours !

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  29. Oh, Lorrie I did so enjoy the peep into your Christmas world... There is a skill to doing Christmas with little ones (and big ones!) And it sounds as though you all pulled it off magnificently! The sparkly ('farkly') dancing skirts at the end must have created so much joy and I LOVE the sweet and tender pic of your husband and the grands opening gifts.
    Here's to a joy filled year to come, and God bless.

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  30. Oh those sweet grands, how adorable. I wanted to wish you a very Happy New Year! For us, it is a bad year of loss and we are anxious to move on to 2016. I always enjoy your shares and look forward to more coming soon~

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  31. An impromptu dance party is the best! No, maybe the best is an impromptu dance party with new sparkly skirts! :)

    You captured such moments of joy with your lens! Happy times shared!

    May your New Year be filled with His grace...

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  32. oh those sparkly skirts. I would want to dance in those! looks like a lovely time was had xxx

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  33. I always enjoy your blog so much Lorrie. It's pretty special to see Vancouver Island in your posts. Your grandchildren are growing up so quickly! Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  34. For Christmas Eve Jim and I went to the movies (Brooklyn) and out for sushi, then an early night home. There has been one sleep over by the little guy, which means blueberry pancakes and cartoons. Oh I loved that you danced and they had sparkly skirts, plus a good Bah Humbug too. The little ones just make is so special. What a nice first picture too. Happy New Year!!!

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  35. Aw...I can see that there was not even a hint of a humbug in this darling group of grands!
    Lovely photos, Lorrie.
    Wishing you and yours a beautiful, fun, safe and Happy New Year!
    Jemma

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