Since we were able to visit the Farmer Boy home in Malone, NY, and we’ve read Farmer Boy as well as other Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, I decided to make an “Old Fashioned Christmas goody bag” to commemorate our memories. I put these inside the kids’ stockings. It had an orange, a peppermint cane and a penny. I only wish I’d had some knitted mittens to put inside! Maybe next year. 🙂 

The little girls, clean and scrubbed and wearing new jammies on Christmas Eve.

Everyone on Christmas Eve, ready for bed.

The gifts beneath the tree, Christmas Eve.

Matthew got a sword fighting set (foam). He has had a blast, but even though it’s foam rubber, it can still hurt! We’ve had to tell him to be careful. 🙂 He also got a farm tractor and trailer and some farm animals, but he got so busy playing, I didn’t get a photo of those.

Lauren gave Matt a gun, and boy did he love it!

Taking careful aim, with his eyes closed. 🙂

Terry set up the girls’ gift, a Barbie Dream House, on Christmas Eve. We had it under a sheet. I was so pleased at how patient they were to take off the sheet. They didn’t run in greedily to grab what was theirs. That made me very happy. 

Taking it all in…it has a fireplace that glows and crackles, a toilet flushing sound for the bathroom, as well as the sound of the shower running, a TV that goes up and down behind the fireplace, a door bell, elevator, a fridge with a light and it’s fully furnished! 

Laci’s blurry joy! 🙂

Happy girls.

Mitchell’s gift – portable piano keyboard – was hard to hide and wrap. I decided we would go on a scavenger hunt to find it! Here he’s opening the first clue, which was:

“You opened the box, but don’t lose hope. Go look under the bar of soap.”

He found the second clue under the bar of soap in our main bathroom. It said:

“Finding this gift is not a breeze. Go look under the dog bowl, please.”

Here he’s reading the last clue: 

“You’re almost done, I promise you. All your dreams will soon come true.

Our gift to you, our fine young man, is found inside the trunk of the van!”

He nearly fell when we ran onto the carport to see the trunk of our van with a sign that said “YOU DID IT!”. He opened the trunk to find his gift – a portable piano with headphones and stand. He began shedding tears of joy, which made me and his dad do the same. There is no greater joy to hear your children walk in truth, and, I might add, to see their grateful hearts. 🙂 It was a moment that I will treasure forever. 

We had some fun with Lauren’s gift, too. We wrapped her gift in one box, then a bigger box, then an even bigger box! It was in Mitchell’s keyboard box, which Mitch was hoping was his gift, so we tricked both of them! haha! Here she’s opening the final box. I love the look on her face when she sees what it is – a 3DS! She was thinking she’d have to save up her own money for one, which she’s been doing for several months. We surprised her, too! 

Sheer delight.

Yes! 

The kids’ drew names and each bought a sibling a gift. I got this precious moment between Laci and Mitchell as she gave him her gift.

Mitch drew Lauren’s name. It’s nice to see them being nice. 🙂

Laci got Dad a journal and one of his favorite pens.

Leslie bought a stapler for her dad. (That was extra special since she lost his other one! lol!)

Lauren bought Dad some of his favorite snacks – candy pretzels!

Mitch got Dad a new sweatshirt.

Laci bought me a coffee cup.

Sweet Leslie – she bought me a blanket and then had saved back some of her Sunday School Christmas candy and wrapped it up for me. Her thoughtfulness touched my heart. She and Laci also made me the bell necklace! 

Lauren got me this “Family” sign.  It’s perfect; it’s one of my favorite words!

Mitchell got me some hot pads. My other ones were getting threadbare and he noticed that my hands got burned a few times. If I look worn out in the above photos, it’s because I was! Staying up late and getting up early for weeks takes its toll. I’ve been enjoying the break from school and sleeping in a little later! 

Our Christmas meal: Brisket, homemade BBQ sauce, homemade mashed potatoes, cranberry salad, stuffing, rolls, green been casserole, and  peas. Dessert was pumpkin pie, chocolate pecan pie, and Dutch apple pie. We feasted like kings, as Mitchell said! 

One blessed lady.