It's getting to look a lot like Christmas (and Winter!!) in Colchester! I'm sure it has a lot to do with my age, however, the days, weeks and months are flying by - it seems like yesterday that we were decorating and preparing for Christmas 2009. Thanksgiving 2010 was just thought about and prepared for..and now we are well into the Christmas season. It would be lovely if we could somehow slow it all down! Isn't this what we always seem to wish for......
Below are pictures of the first two ornaments that went on our Christmas tree for 2010! First of all an ornament to commemorate Ed's exciting and highly rewarding experiences at Harvard this Fall.
And secondly, this ornament is a replica of Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas cruise ship .... the very ship that we sailed this past June to the Bahamas, St. Maartan and St. Thomas. What a wonderful family trip - filled with so many cherished memories - celebrating Bryan's 21st birthday!
Our beautiful tree....all lit and decorated for the season.....
We are really enjoying this holiday season and are all quite busy with Christmas events. Cookie exchanges, Christmas concerts, holiday dinners with friends, the shopping frenzy, work parties, ornament exchanges, Secret Santas, baking with friends ..... it's all about the traditions and the time spent with family and friends.
Speaking about tradition and time spent with family and friends....this is our 20th year of attending our annual Christmas dinner/ornament exchange with our very dearest friends. Hosted by Ken and Monica...every year we, (all 14 of us!), gather to enjoy a lovely dinner and celebrate the season and our friendship. After dinner we participate in a rousing ornament exchange, that at times can get a bit "heated"....depending on the ornament!! ;-) The caroling that occurs after dinner always puts us all back into the true spirit of Christmas... although, some of us do have better singing voices than others!! :-)
Everyone gathered at Ken and Monica's dining room table!
Ken and Monica....the chefs of the evening and our fabulous host and hostess!
The lovely meal of the evening! It was absolutely delicious.....as usual!
Ed, John and Dale.....
Sue and Ellen.....
Ken, Monica, Paul and Linda......
Relaxing after dinner with our caroling and ornament exchange....such fun! :-)
Nothing like a good old fashioned round of Yankee Swap....with ornaments. Each year we come up with a different way to decide who gets their first pick of ornaments! This year the order was determined by the first letter of your middle name, although we would work the alphabet backwards! It's Mark's turn....he's opening his package.....and then......
....marveling at his chosen ornament. Don't get too attached Mark!!!! Someone just may steal it from you....Monica is looking very interested....!
"Silent Night....Holy Night..." Caroling the night away!
The MOST perfect way to end a brilliant evening....with a bit of perfection!! Yum...
With less than one week before Christmas Day, we do hope you all are enjoying the Season as well! We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and our warmest, love-filled wishes for a happy, healthy, joyful and blessed New Year.
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