Christmas 2017

Christmas Eve we went to Christmas Mass at St. Michael’s Church in Auburn.  St. Patrick’s, the church Jana and I normally attend, did not have a Christmas Eve Mass.  They only had a Midnight Mass and one at noon on Christmas Day.  Kevin, Renea and Stephanie also attended Mass at St. Michael’s with us.  This church is the one the Derdowski family attends, and they invited us to go with them.  It is a big beautiful church.  The service was great.  They had a children’s choir perform before Mass and during Mass. 

Ryan stayed with Renea’s dad while we went to Mass.

Afterward we came back to Kevin and Renea’s for food which consisted of appetizers and desserts. After eating Jana and I came home and had our Christmas.  The Derdowski’s stayed and exchanged gifts and played games.  Jana and I each received a gift from the “D” family.  Jennifer made us a beautiful Christmas decoration.  When Jana and I got home we opened our presents to each other.  We both bought a few things such as treats and toys for Penny and Mattie.  Mattie got all excited and couldn’t decide what to play with first.  I think right now her favorite is a “wreath” that I bought her.  Penny, being a typical cat, just watched.  Jana and I were like a couple of kids opening our presents.  We knew some of the things we bought each other, but there were quite a few surprises also.

Christmas morning Jana came over to my house for breakfast.  She usually eats her breakfast at her camper.  Anyway, I made cinnamon rolls which tasted great.  That was a real treat for us.  We just about finished eating and Kevin and Stephanie came over to carry our presents for them to their house.  (we were going to drive over to take the presents)  They had to make four trips.  I think they were kind of anxious to have Christmas.  Meanwhile, Renea went to the nursing home to bring her mom home for the day.

We had a great time.  Everyone liked their presents.  We took turns opening them.  Kevin and Ryan took pictures, but I don’t have a copy of them yet.  Renea received a couple of presents that made her cry.  Stephanie had a “firefighter” plaque made for her which made both Renea and Jana cry.  When Jana and I were in Holmes County last summer we went to the Smucker’s store.  I bought Ryan and Stephanie each a PB&J gift box.  Since they are always pantry shopping at their mom’s I thought this might feed them for a couple of days.  They got a big kick out of the fact that Grandma bought them something like that. 

Kevin had said he wanted gifts for fishing, hunting, his bees, etc.  So, Jana and I got together all these joke ornaments, wrapped each one separately along with a note for each one.  It was so funny.  I also gave him a nice gift.  Anyway, if the pictures turned out pretty good I will post at least some of them with an explanation.

Jana and I baked about a thousand cookies (or so it seemed) and we gave everyone, including the “D” family containers of cookies.  Ryan and Stephanie were excited to get them also.  Anyway, we had so many we gave Stephanie a tray of them to take to the firehouse.  I sent a container of them with Kevin for Brian and his family when he went to Ohio this past week.

After opening all our presents Renea’s mom and dad took a nap, Ryan went home to take a nap and feed his dogs, Stephanie went home to shower and take a nap, Kevin and Renea were cooking, Jana and I came home so I could make dressing and we could feed the “girls.”  We returned about 3:30 that afternoon, Stephanie and Ryan came back and we had Christmas dinner.  After dinner Renea took her mom back to the nursing home, Ryan and Stephanie left, Jana and I left for home.  Kevin and Renea went to Ricky and Lenora’s later that evening. 

I had talked to Brian that morning.  Received a text from Tracy, Bradley and Brianna.  Steven was working and/or sleeping so I didn’t hear from him.  Brandon was home for the holidays, so I didn’t hear from Samantha until later in the week.  Seems everyone liked their presents in Ohio also. 

This is it until next year.  Hope everyone has a Blessed and Happy New Year.