Memory-Making Moments {Christmas 2016}

Memory-making moments. 

There were many during this Christmas of 2016.

It was our first Christmas at Pineapple House! We so enjoyed the gathering space (twenty-one of us, and not a bit crowded), and we were grateful. It was also the first Christmas in many years that Ryan and his family were here to celebrate with us. How delightful that was!

It was a time of . . .

          gathering

          loving

          feasting

          rejoicing

          worshiping 

          giving

          celebrating the One who came to redeem! 

Christmas Eve

Those faces! 😁

Christmas Day

So blessed to share breakfast with our parents!

Gotta love a little boy with chocolate on his lips!

The latest edition of "What will Ryan do with his gift wrap today?"

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the time of special music, 

singing and playing the story of Messiah come to earth!

Kristin accompanied four of her children as they sang a medley of "Away in a Manger" and "Happy Birthday to Jesus." So beautiful!

Ryan sang and played a stirring rendition of "Advent Suite,"

and then "Unto Us a Son is Given," with harmony added by his daughter Eve (9) and his wife Sarah.
Wonder-ful!

Bekah played "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (her recital piece). Owen (10) played "The Twelve Days of Christmas. And Nora (7) and Bekah played a piano duet of "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."
Delightful!

And after a day of joyful celebration . . .

our bodies were spent, but our hearts were full!

A Musical Gift...

Glimpses...and a Greeting!

Around our house this week...

It's a little blurry in the evening light, but I love this photo capturing a moment my littlest grand.

Do you see him?  ↑

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die!

May your celebrations be joyous as you celebrate His light and life!

Scarlett O'Hara Christmas Punch {Non-Alcoholic Version}

Several years ago, we bought this hobnail punch bowl in a local antique store, but it languished away in the attic because who makes punch? Not I. That is, until I saw this punch on Nora Murphy's 2014 holiday e-mag (sadly, no longer online as she is updating the old e-mags to a new format). I knew that this would be pretty and festive in the hobnail bowl, and now Scarlett O'Hara punch is a standard at our Christmas parties. 

The punch is made even more beautiful by the addition of these gorgeous ice cubes! 

The day before your party, gather a few simple ingredients: fresh cranberries, orange slices, and a few sprigs of rosemary. Place them in small plastic containers, cover with water, seal, and freeze overnight. 

Bekah is our punch girl! She loves everything about it: the flavor, the easy recipe, the beauty (that, she really loves!), and ladling it into the little hobnail punch cups. She takes ownership of the whole process. 

SCARLETT O'HARA CHRISTMAS PUNCH

(non-alcoholic version)

Ingredients:

1 gallon cranberry juice

1 cup lime juice

2 cups confectioner's sugar 

1 liter ginger ale

gorgeous ice cubes :) 

Directions:

1) Stir together first four ingredients.

2) Add beautiful ice!

Note: If you don't have a punch bowl, you could mix this up in a pitcher or jug, and serve it in clear glasses or even in pretty plastic punch cups. Make your ice in a regular ice cube tray with tiny rosemary sprigs and a few cranberries.

Are you getting everything checked off your list? My shopping is finished, but I still have some wrapping to do. And {confession here} I have not baked a single thing! Nada. Kati has made fudge and several flavors of chocolate bark, but the only cookies we have in this house today are Keebler. I hope to make a couple of kinds of cookies before week's end, as well as some Chex mix. We'll see how it goes. 

Today, I am hosting a little luncheon for my mom, my sister, and my aunt. (My aunt is bringing dessert. It's a good thing, huh?)

Off to the grocery store for a last minute ingredient...

How are things going there in your corner?