Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!

As usual, when I put my pictures on my blog they aren't in any particular order. They might have been to start with but never end up that way. Hopefully they make sense to you as they do to me, but I was there . . .

I got into Ankeny Friday evening around 5:30 p.m. I made great time from Dubuque and the traffic wasn't bad at all! I really thought it would be worse than it was but . . . I lucked out. Barbie was out with her college friends for an evening of enjoyment. She called just as I was entering Ankeny and was surprised that I was where I was. She turned around and met at her house to help unload my car!!! (I have the red sleigh!) Doesn't take long when 2 people do it together! I had help on this end too. Jim Ross and Hannah Davis helped me pack up my car Friday morning. We went out to lunch together as a thank you. They were a big help and I appreciated it very much!

I called Jim to let him know that I had got there. They were on their way to a party with friends. So . . . I spent some time just being lazy. Saturday morning we slept in a bit, took showers, got dressed and packed up Barb's car for the trip to Urbandale (about a 15 minute drive?) well something like that. We were spending Christmas Eve Day with Jim and his family and Mandy's mother, Jackie, and Mandy's brother Jesse and his wife Cheryl and Mandy's sister, Chelsea and her children (Jayke and Leighton). Mandy had all kinds of goodies made up, plus she made baked potato soup and chili. The soup was terrific!!! Everyone also brought something to munch on for the day. The day started out with Boomer getting out of the house. The dogs were sent to the basement but Bommer and Milo were upstairs with all the humans. After searching for quite some time Jessie and Jim crawled under Jim's car and found the cat! He got a swat on the butt and a hug!! All were now back in the house safe.

Everybody desecended on the food. It was decided that since there were so many of us and the pile of gifts had grown considerably when Jackie and Frank and Barb and I got there that opening gifts was next on the list. The following are pictures of our Christmas Eve Day!

Jessie and Cheryl left the house early for the church. Hope has 7 services on Christmas Eve. It was decided beforehand that we would attend the 5:00 p.m. service. Jesse found us seats together in one of the far balconies. This picture was taken during the singing of Silent Night and the candlelighting service. Isn't it cool??? It was a beautiful Christmas Eve service.


Charlotte brought Grinch to church with her. She loves the singing of the congregation and they do a lot of it at Hope. She was content to just sit and wait for something to happen.




Back to the gift opening for a minute. Jim opened a gift to the whole family from Barb - an ornament with everyone's name on it for next year's Christmas tree. Cool.


We took turns with baby time. Barb has Oliver and looks like she's telling him some story of some kind. Wonder what it was about?

Back at church . . . when we left the service we found one of the many trees and had our pictures taken together. Some nice gentleman from the congregation came up and took pictures of all us that attended together. Aren't we a happy looking bunch?

Cheryl and Jesse were the photographers for this shot. A great memory of me with my kids at Christmas.

Barb and I took our turn holding the little ones and having our pictures taken. Another great memory.

Another candle shot. Hope is such a beautiful church and the Christmas Eve service is something to look forward to from one year to the next.

Mandy and Charlotte are ready for church.

Before leaving for church Charlotte took The Grinch on a shopping trip! Now that's the way to dress for shopping!!

Barbie with the newest member of the Davis Clan. He's so darn cute!

We took turns opening our gifts. I got a Kindle from Barb. I love it! This is the first Christmas in a long time that I remember having pictures of myself. Kinda nice!!! Thanks Barbie.

I also received a new camera. Jim and Mandy found one that I can figure out and use to my heart's content. I love it!!! Can't wait to put it to use. Jim charged it and changed the memory cards and I was ready to go! Took a few pictures at church so at least everyone knows I got it figure out . . . to that point anyway!!!

A new toy for Oliver. He's certainly enjoying gift opening!

Everybody got baby time. It was my turn. I think Oliver was telling me something!

Did anyone win? Chelsea gave everyone a scratch-off for a gift. Mandy, Jackie and Frank are hard at it trying to win the big one!!!

Mandy was pretty busy the majority of the day, but took time out for a picture with her family. Aren't they a delight?

Uncle Jesse sat down and the kids piled on!!! We're missing Oliver but he was busy being held by one of the grandma's!!!

Jim & his son in front of the tree. I know there's a tree back there someplace!!

Oliver in his Christmas finery!!!

Me and my grandkids!

Jim & Oliver. I stoled this from Barbie's picture of the Davis Christmas in Cascade. Couldn't resist. What a great picture.

Barb's Christmas tree.

No real order to my pictures. I think it's time to take blogger 101 again. There's many more and if I get enough ambition to try again I'll put some more on. Pictures are such a cool way to keep memories alive. I don't take as many as I should but I steal from everyone else and then put them in memory books to share.

I hope everyone had as nice a Christmas as I did. I had a great time with my sister and her family (but then we always do) and a lot of quality time with my daughter during this Christmas season. I enjoyed the day with the Davis' and my new extended family (Jackie and her kids). Here's to more memories for all of us! God Bless.

Christmas with the Sass Families!

This is part of the reason for our Christmas -- our children. We are missing Jim, Mandy, Charlotte and Oliver on this shot, but hopefully next year they will be able to join us. We get together to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the season.
Saturday, December 10th I had Christmas with my sister and her family. Our tradition of getting together on Christmas Eve has changed over the past couple of years. Our children have children of their own and want to be with them in their own home on Christmas Eve, so we changed our tradition for new ones! We still get together as a family with an overnight. 2011 was Glee's turn to have the crew in. Barbie (she drove the blue sleigh this year) and I arrived around 2:00 p.m. I really thought we were going to beat Karsten and Beth there but we didn't! Darn!! The boys were running around playing and just being boys! Jackson has been sick and still wasn't up to par, but he did pretty well. He and Barb have this thing about swatting each other on the butt and then taking off! Jackson remembers this from Estes this summer. They had a good time running after each other for awhile. I think Barb finally gave in . . . just getting old!! Jackson also needed time to re-charge because of being sick. Now Tristan on the other hand, is just the happiest toddler I've ever seen. He's always smiling and laughing. One of the things he got for Christmas was a flashlight. He was studying it pretty good on this picture.

Both boys loved helping the rest of us open our gifts. Here's Barb and Tristan working on a gift together. Look at the concentration on Tristan's face. Gotta love him.

Look at those blue, blue eyes. Caught on camera!

We always take turns opening gifts, but all had help this year from the boys. Glee got a frog for her rock garden and both boys wanted to see just exactly what it looked like.

It has become a tradition to take pictures of everyone in front of the Christmas tree. This year was no different. The Sass Clan got together and here's the results. What a great looking bunch of relatives!!

One of Karsten's gifts was a puzzle. Ron's trying his darnest to figure out how to make it work!!

Karsten tries his hand at a gift of Tristan's.

Jackson helped pass out the gifts this year. He's ready to deliver this one. I love this picture. It's a cool shot of such a darling little boy!!!

Now it's time for Jackson to open a gift of his own.

Tristan helped Barb open a gift, now it's Jackson's turn.

Glee found this Santa in Estes Park this past summer. When she wasn't looking Barb grabbed it and got it for her for Christmas. Glee collects Santa's, I collect snowmen.

The Foels Family got a family ornament for their tree. Karsten likes it!!!

Tristan's turn to pass out a gift. Papa's having a great time!

No helpers Barb? Guess she'll have to go it alone on this gift.

Beth collects angels. Here's her latest for her collection!

Mike and I have this thing about candles. When I last moved he carried in boxes and boxes of candles. Told me I had enough to light the City of Dubuque, sooooooo, every Christmas he gets candles from me. Sometimes they're new, and sometimes they've been used!!

Barbie's a Pirates fan (and I don't mean Postville Pirates! At least not in this case). She got the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie from Ron & Glee.

It was Barb and my turn at the in front of the tree picture. And no, I don't know where my hand went. Who took this picture anyway???

The Foels' Family with their darling little boys!!!

We had a great time. Supper was our usual soup and assorted goodies! Everything tasted good and there was plenty to eat all night long. Barb and I stayed over so we could be there in the morning for brunch! Mike headed home as did the Foels' family. We spent part of the evening watching the ISU volleyball team in tournament. Unfortunately they got beat, but the games were good. Jackson pretty much ran out of steam by the end of the evening. Tristan, on the other hand, was still ready to go!!! Hopefully Jackson will be feeling better soon.

Sunday morning Barb and I slept in. I love being at the Sass Farm in the fall and winter. It's so peaceful! Glee had a delicious brunch. All kinds of sweet rolls, an egg casserole, bagels (this is making me hungry all over again). We had a wonderful time and these pictures will always be with us as great memories.

Merry Christmas All!

New Grandson!

Beautiful children! Another one of Mandy's pictures. She does wonderful work!! But look what she has to work with!! Her children are beautiful.

Charlotte, her Disney Princess look!!!

A very informal family portrait! They were all together so I snapped the picture.

There is no order to these pictures. I just post them as I copy them. Bear with me. They're worth looking at. When we went to visit the newest edition to the family we took presents for Baby Oliver and Charlotte. Charlotte got a new top from Aunt Barbe. She likes it!
Oliver Norman Davis. This is one of Mandy's beautiful pictures of her son. I'm sure someday he won't thank her for it, but it's a beautiful picture and a wonderful memory.

Barbie went to visit the little one late Monday afternoon. Great shot of Mom, Dad and the newest Davis. Congratulations!

Barbie and Oliver.

This is the official announcement of Jim & Mandy's son. Mandy took the picture and did the work on the announcement itself. He's a beautiful baby and Mandy did a great job on the announcement!

Isn't he a little doll?

Mom and Baby. I love this shot. It's perfect!!

Grandma and her grandson!

More of Mandy's work. I think he's about 2 weeks old on these.

One proud grandmother!!!

Charlotte wanted to help feed Oliver so Mom accomodated her! She's a natural and loves helping Mom take care of her baby brother. Look closely and you can see Mom's hand under Oliver's head. What a precious picture.

Daddy with his son in the hospital. That's one proud Daddy!!!

Big sister couldn't wait to meet her brother and hold him.

Mandy does beautiful work. Big sister and little brother! Pure love.

That's my little princess! I found her a princess hat and wand for her at the craft fair. She seemed to enjoy playing with it!! What a cutie!!

Baby Oliver's gift(s)! A friend of mine made the basket for all the goodies that I found for Oliver. The basket is made of paper, all paper. Stephanie does a beautiful job on making these baskets!!! This one has Boyd's Bears on it!!

This is a duplicate but it's such a beautiful picture. Enjoy.

On November 14, 2011 is the birthdate of my grandson, Oliver Norman. Oliver's parents are my son Jim and wife Mandy. Oliver joins a sister, Charlotte!!

There that's the official announcement on my blog. Mandy had a c-section with Oliver on the advice of her doctors. All went well and they have a beautiful little boy. He is such a darling!! I drove down to Ankeny on Friday, November 18 to check out the newest addition to the family. Barb and I went over on Saturday morning. When I got in on Friday night Jackie and Jayke had just arrived and since Barb was at a ballgame I decided I would wait until the next day to greet my little grandchild.

Got up Saturday morning and called Jim, and they were at the doctor. Nothing to worry about, just a regular checkup after the birth. We headed out to the fairgrounds to a huge craft show. It was really cool. Looked at a lot of things and decided we would either come back later that afternoon or the next day. Picked up chicken for dinner and took off for Jim's. As usual, we were greeted by Odie, Petey, Boomer and Jim! There's always a welcoming committee at Jim's door!! Jayke was holding the little one when we got there but he graciously gave him up for Grandma Joy! What a thrill! A new little one to hold. There's nothing more wonderful than holding a little baby (and even more so when it's your own grandson) in the whole world. Babies are just so special. Oliver has a whole lot of hair. I didn't get to see much of his eyes, he slept the majority of the time. We brought presents for Oliver and Charlotte. Spent some time opening presents and taking pictures. We had a bite to eat and then Barb decided to rake the backyard. She had a bit of a cold and didn't want anyone else to catch it so her and Jayke spent some time outdoors. Barb got the whole backyard raked!!! Came in to warm up a bit and left! Jim asked me to stay longer and would take me home later. I had a wonderful afternoon with Oliver, Charlotte, Jim, Mandy, Jackie and Jayke. Jim took me home around 8:30 with the promise of seeing everyone the next day.

Sunday morning we got up and headed out to the fairgrounds again. I picked up some Christmas gifts. Slowly but surely I will get my shopping done!! We got to Jim's around 12:30 and spent the afternoon with everyone. Mandy took some formal pictures of her kiddos! She does a beautiful job. A lot of pictures I've posted are from her. I had a great time meeting and greeting my grandson and see my darling little Charlotte again. Can't wait for the next visit!!