Christmas 2014 Photo Dump!

I must be the worst blogger on the planet--and the best user of hyperbole on the planet as well, obviously.  No, the best user of hyperbole in the galaxy!  In the entire universe!

If you come here often to see what's new at String of Pearls (and if you do, you're my favorite), you've probably been a tad disappointed in me and my blogging work ethic, or lack thereof.  But I just can't seem to get myself to sit down at my laptop and write.  Something has been getting in the way...and that something, I believe, is called "real life."  Living it has been taking up so much of my concentration, my time, and my energy (and producing in my soul such an inordinate amount of pure joy), that it's all I can do these days to merely answer the occasional email.

We had an awesome Christmas, that's it in a nutshell.  All of our gang--five sons, four daughters-in-law, four grandchildren (and even two granddogs)--came home and stayed under our roof, from the days leading up to Christmas through a few days afterward, and it was wonderful.  My hubby and I couldn't ask for a greater gift than having our children and grandchildren all gathered together, in the house where we raised our boys, to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We are already looking forward to 2016, when it will happen again (God willing!).

I'd like to enumerate each and every sweet, funny, and happy detail of Christmas week, but I have neither the time nor the energy to do so right now.  I'm down in VA, staying at my middle son's home for the month of January, helping out by watching little G-Man during the day while his mom is at work.  She just finished three months of maternity leave and is about four months away from becoming a SAHM; but for now, G-Man's parents need some in-home help before he goes to daycare.  I'll be here the whole time, and my husband will be commuting to work from here until we head back home in February.

The little guy is cat-napping right now, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to put together a little album of pictures that can do the talking for me, and share with you dear readers some of the highlights of our Christmas.


Our granddaughters loved our tree.



But didn't love wearing clothes.  (Little Gal, when given the opportunity, opted
for the diaper-only ensemble.)

They were also enthralled by our oversized Nativity.

 

G-Man's tummy time sessions kept us all mesmerized.



This is the face of a contented Papa.



I thought my kitchen looked great when we had the cabinets re-faced recently.  But when I happened upon my six
guys hanging out in it, chewing the fat as in days of old, I thought it had never looked more beautiful.

Our traditional Christmas Eve, with pizza and Christmas crackers.  Everyone wore their paper crowns.

Even G-Man!  (It looked great with his trademark bow tie.)

Now THIS is why Grammy needed a little island: to have the
perfect spot for decorating Christmas cookies with the twins.

Santa thought they were delicious!

I have the most beautiful daughters-in-law!

My girls and me.  (The female Pearls outnumber the males right now!  Who would have thunk it?
Maybe that'll change in April, when grandchild #5 arrives.)

My boys.  (Be still my heart.)

Winner of the best dressed award: dapper little G-Man.

He's a man of many hats...

...as you can see.

And he's very snuggly and edible.

A gift from the heart, from Mommy.

One of these days, I'm going to blog about making five nostalgia-inducing t-shirt blankets for my boys this Christmas.  But not today.  (Look for that post in the coming week or two.)

Keep 'em coming back for more, that's what I always say!