Holidays and Family Time

Christmas at the Nobles involves many traditions. It starts at Thanksgiving, we make a lot of cookies. A trek to the tree farm to cut a tree is next. Alyssa helps Randy put lights on the tree, and she usually puts up the lights outside too. Everyone helps hang ornaments.  In December we watch holiday movies, such as Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful Life. Trinity Methodist Church has a live nativity and we consistently make a trip to see it.  The kids all went to preschool at Trinity, we call it our Methodist church!  This year we attended a Christmas Eve service at Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

Christmas morning starts on our bed, and the reading of the birth of Christ. Well, they don't fit on our bed anymore, and we relocated to the den for this tradition.  We have some great stories of Kate's renditions of the Christmas story.  After prayer the kids open stockings, and then on to the  presents under the tree.  A few years ago we started opening gifts one at a time...youngest to oldest. That makes it last longer, and it's not just a ' free for all' of paper shredding! Later we go to Grandmommie's house (Randy's mom) for a wonderful lunch and an afternoon of hanging out...movies, games, and sometimes general craziness.

The girls started a new tradition: a gingerbread house made out of graham crackers

Boots and new sweaters!

Kate is a HUGE "One Direction" fan

Nerf wars because it's fun to get toys!

Alyssa received a calendar this year

After our first National Parks trip in 2002, I began making calendars for the grandparents.  This year I had one made for Alyssa.  It had pictures from our Colorado trip, but also included pictures of friends from home and Berry.  When we were in Florida, the kids enjoyed looking back at the old calendars.

Kate on an early calendar. She was SO cute!

Checking out the calendars.  Cousin Leslie on the left.

Passing time on the farm includes battling with sticks!

After Christmas we make the journey south to Hawthorne Florida to visit my folks. One of the best parts of visiting my parents is getting fresh fruit.  There was a freeze last year, and some of our favorite citrus, Chinese Honeys, did not bear.  We did get some Parson Brown oranges to make fresh squeezed juice.  We are spoiled!

Aaron juicing oranges

Yummy oranges

My parents are elderly (89 & 88), but are still in their own home.  They have in home care for almost 24/7, but when I'm visiting 'the help' gets time off. When I was growing up my Dad was always busy working, but there isn't much he can do anymore. He used to pick oranges and juice them.  He used to pick up pecans, crack and shell them.  He used to plant a huge garden.  The kids have great memories of working with Papa in the field, but that is in the past. The trees on the farm didn't bear any nuts this fall! To give Dad something to do, my brother bought pecans for him to crack and shell. 

Mom and Dad shelling nuts

The kids with Nannie and Papa

A big shout out to my brother, Leo and his wife Dee. They take care of all the details with my parents, and I am so grateful for all they do. I am blessed with a great family!