Before we went to bed on Christmas Eve the table was set for our Swedish Pancake Breakfast. I was up several times during the night receiving texts and talking with Katie in North Carolina with updates on when Andrew might arrive back to the base from Afghanistan. It felt a little like those days long ago when I’d get up in the night to feed my little ones. The final text I received at 4:48 Pacific time was that finally Andrew and Katie were reunited.
Josh and Laura celebrate with Laura’s family on Christmas Eve. When the festivities are finished there they drive to our house and let themselves in and settle down for the night in the guest room. On Christmas morning we start our day opening the gifts that were left in our stockings. It’s always fun to see what creative additions we come up with. Our son Dan always buys scratch cards for all of us. He wasn’t with us on Christmas morning this year because he had to work so Josh and Laura bought scratch cards for all of us. Woohoo! My card was a $50.00 winner! After our Stockings we move on to Swedish Pancakes for breakfast. Dear is our resident Swede and he traditionally makes our Christmas morning breakfast.
After we have breakfast we move on to the gifts under the tree. I wasn’t a great photographer this Christmas. I think I was suffering from lack of sleep due to son-in-law in transit. I did get a few photos of some of our gifts. Katie and Andrew bought these Ugg slippers for me.
Love this Sounders gnome from Josh and Laura. They bought me lots of other cool things but this guy compelled the photo!
Our son Dan bought Laura this full set of Harry Potter books. He really is a thoughtful gift buyer. We missed having him with us this year.
There should be no doubts that we are big Sounders soccer fans. Dear and I bought Josh the new Sounders jersey. Laura got a training warm up jacket from us that she wore the rest of Christmas day and I failed to get a photo of her in it!
Our evening ended with a wonderful dinner. We also enjoyed phone calls from Dan, Katie and Andrew.
It’s hard to believe that we are moving on to New Year’s now. I was so grateful to have a lay low day on Monday after Christmas. Hope you all had good times with family and friends!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Love seeing your table settings, Ellen. Dinner looks phenomenal! Fun to see creativity and thoughtfulness in gift-giving — just like our Lord who knows just what we need.
Looks like a perfect Christmas celebration! Your meal looked so scrumptious! Love your table setting!! Beautiful!
That was one of the best reasons to lose sleep. Welcome home, Andrew! Just in time for Christmas 🙂
Soccer! Harry Potter! Ugg slippers! A gorgeous table! Definitely looks like a merry Christmas to me! 🙂
I can just imagine you up every hour to check on Andrew’s arrival – the joy!
Your Christmas morning looks like it was a cosy as can be – love those slippers!
Glad to hear that Andrew make it home to Katie! That is good news! Dear is Swede? I am half Swede also! The other half is Finnish. Love the gnome. A friend has one, some other team though, that the take with them on their travels. She takes pictures of him everywhere they go. kind of like I do with my Helmi! Fun! Sounds like you had a nice Christmas!
~Linnea
Sounds like you had an enjoyable time together. what fun to see the various gifts that they purchase for each other. I have to try Swedish pancakes…We had your blintzes last night..one with your cheese cream filling and one with asparagus and ham. How delicious!
Have a wonderful day as you continue to enjoy the blessings.
That prime rib looked so juicy and delicious…what a nice change from turkey. And swedish pancakes too? Mmmmmm. I’m liking those ideas! The gnome…hilarious! Now go and get some rest!
Lovely pictures. That hazelnut tart is scrumptious looking!!! Oh, the Ugg slippers look so comfy too!
I would love to know how you prepared and cooked your prime rib. This was only my second year cooking one and it was pretty good— just curious about others methods and tips. Rest up— New years Eve is coming!
Thank God on your good news about Andrew! That is always wonderful news to receive:) Yum to Yorkshire pudding–my mom used to make individual ones and seeing yours brings back tasty memories! Love all the beautiful red you used and the gnome is adorable! Swedish pancakes are the best–yum! Merry Christmas!
Blessings, Aimee