FEEDING THE MULTITUDES

As Christmas day continued into the afternoon, guests arrived until we had twenty. The whole event went smoothly, the food was done on time, the children played well together, everyone laughed and had fun and we all ate until we could eat no more. We even got to do a video skype with Belinda, Daisy, Ally and Neo.

Nine of us ate at two abutting tables in the dining room.

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Four of us ate in the family room.

The four oldest children ate at the black folding table while the two three-year-olds ate at the pink princess table. Alexia was the only one among us who didn't eat at a table.

Dinner was followed by the exchanging of gifts.

The youngest guitar player in the group got a new case for her guitar.

Count 'em. Twenty.

The dynamic duo of Makiah and Naomi were inseparable throughout the afternoon.

Three years earlier. The same dynamic duo.

STOCKINGS AND GIFTS

Before the Christmas dinner crowd arrives later today, the eight of us who slept here overnight exchange some gifts and open some stockings.

At some point between when we all nestled all snug in our beds last night and when we all awoke this morning, somebody managed to fill a bunch of stockings with Christmas goodies.

Time to open stockings.

Devon and his stocking.

"Yes, Naomi, you may have one candy cane before breakfast."

Ashley prepares Santa for handing out gifts from under the tree.

The crowd watches Santa with eager anticipation.

Waving to Santa left-handed.

For Naomi.

Opening gifts.

One for Silas.

Devon gives Papa a very large lollipop.

Devon with his new, rubber Christmas teeth.

Pea coat for Nana.

Ashley's new journal.

Stocking for Tim.

New PC for Naomi.

Enjoying gifts.

Some gifts are not particulary Christmasy, but pretty funny.

MOUSE TRAP, SUDOKU AND THE THREE LITTLE MOFFITS

Early Christmas morning, while awaiting the opening of gifts, the three little W's occupy themselves with Mouse Trap, Sudoku and The Three Little Moffits.

Devon plays with Mouse Trap in the Grandkid's Dormitory.

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Silas and Sudoku.

Naomi watches the blockbuster hit, "The Three Little Moffits".

O, FAKE TANNENBAUM

Earlier today.

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Later today.

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To see the evolutionary process from "before" to "after", click here.

GRANDKID'S DORMITORY

I have a dream.

I have a dream that one day all of our out-of-town grandchildren can sleep and play in their own space while their parents sleep by themselves in the spare bedroom.

I have a dream that one day Weathersby children and Moffit children and a little Hunter can play together in unity in their very own room at Papa and Nana's house.

I have a dream today.

And today I took steps toward fulfilling that dream.

With a 220-volt heater installed in our covered patio a couple of weeks ago, the grandkids can now sleep in warmth. But with a concrete floor, comfort may still evade them.

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A piece of indoor/outdoor carpeting might provide just the finishing touch to make the covered patio more grandkid-friendly.

Lighter than it looks, I carried it from the pickup to the patio all by myself.

Trimming required for proper fit.

Razor knife in action.

Trimming around the cabinets required.

Carpet installed.

Heat above, carpet below. Bring on the grandkids!

Rest required upon completion of project.

BEING THANKFUL

A couple of weeks ago, it looked like we were going to be creating an annual Thanksgiving Day tradition of taking Dee to Hometown Buffet. Since there were only four of us, we decided to repeat last year's performance of keeping it simple.

Then a couple of weekends ago, Josie mentioned that she and Gordon would be home alone with Alexia on Thanksgiving Day and that Gordon's parents, Tom and Ruth, would be spending the holiday in northern California with Baylee and Rylie at the home of other relatives.

So, Hometown Buffet no longer seemed appropriate, and we decided to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the seven of us: Debra, Ashley, Dee, Gordon, Josie, Alexia (who can't quite chew on turkey yet) and me.

Then, because of weather, Tom and Ruth decided it would not be safe to drive over the Siskiyou Summit into northern California. So, Tom and Ruth brought Baylee and Rylie and a delicious bone-in ham to our place and we all ate, and were thankful, and ate some more. And after that we ate again. Then we had dessert.

This year's Thanksgiving crowd, clockwise starting with the booster seat, included Makiah, Gordon, Baylee, Rylie, Dee, Ashley, Debra, me, Josie, Ruth, Tom and Alexia.

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Dee, sitting beside Ashley, was the senior member of the group.

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Alexia was the junior member of the group.

With a closet full of games and toys, the most fun activity for Baylee, Rylie and Makiah was running and sliding on our new laminate floor.

A mother flanked by two daughters after enthusiastic eating.