Christmas Fun with Grandma Cheryl

 My mom is the best Grandma.  Once they were home from college, she took her adult grandsons who aren't working full-time (i.e. Jackson didn't get to go -- I can't believe all of her grandsons are over 18 now!) to Silver Dollar City for their Christmas Festival.  They stopped at Steak-n-Shake on the way to the park.

The weather was really nice that day, which meant the crowds were a little crazy.

They still got to ride all of their favorite rides, like Time Traveler. . .

. . . and of course, they got to experience the magic of SDC after dark during the Christmas season.  It never gets old!

There was a new humongous REAL tree this year that I seriously think could rival the one in New York City. Look at how beautiful that is!

Here are a few other pics the boys sent of the cool reflections over the water.

They also were able to see the parade -- love this final float!

What a gift my mom has given these kids over the years -- so many wonderful memories at Silver Dollar City!

The SDC trip was the weekend before Christmas; then, the weekend after Christmas, we had a Girls Day to watch "Wicked: For Good" and go to Dempsey's as we did last year for the first Wicked movie.

Sara and Kyla joined us for the movie, but had to leave before our late lunch.  It was a fun day spent with mom and the girls!

Lots of Christmas fun with Grandma Cheryl!

Deterding Family Christmas

 O sing of Christ, whose birth made known the kindness of the Lord,
Eternal Word made flesh and bone so we could be restored.
Upon our frail humanity God's finger chose to trace
The fullness of His deity, the icon of His grace.

Our Deterding Family Christmas celebration was on the 2nd Day of Christmas this year.  While mom was in Germany at the end of November/early December, Joy and I helped Dad get the decorations up. We found our old stockings and decided they should make an appearance this year. My mom made these stockings when we were born, so they are between 36-51 years old! They've aged well :)

We got some good (slightly cheesy) family pictures to get the party started.

Grandkids pic with Grandpa Kermit and Grandma Cheryl! I like how Syd looks like a princess in the back row with all of her body guards.

Kyle made a plastic-wrap ball game for the girls to play and they worked hard getting all of the candy/money out with their oven mitts on.

We ate our traditional Mexican feast and then Kyla Kay read us the Christmas story out of Luke 2.

Time to tear into those gifts!  Violet was ready.

In addition to her new shoes, sweater and bocce ball set, she got a new favorite t-shirt.

Evelyn got new Uggs and Nike's (because she found a good deal on both pair), and a Kendra Scott necklace.

The boys got new shoes and clothes.

Are these some handsome men or what?!? (Oliver just needs his boots!)

Cheers to a fantastic Christmas celebration with family!

And that's a wrap on Christmas parties for 2025! What a wonderful season we enjoyed with our family, celebrating the BEST gift of all: our Lord Jesus incarnate, who came down from heaven to save us all!

Lord Jesus Christ, you deigned to dwell among us here on earth

As God with us, Emmanuel, to bring this holy birth.

Though rich, you willingly became one with our poverty,

That we might share your wealth and name for all eternity. LSB 362v.4

Dwyer Family Christmas

What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the baby, the son of Mary!

Christmas afternoon/evening is always spent with the Dwyer side of the family at Grandma Jo & Grandpa Denny's house. This year was just a little different as Jo wasn't feeling well leading up to Christmas so we had a change of venue and moved the party 1/4 mile down the road to Joy & Scott's house.  We got a couple of family pictures to get started (somehow missed getting Dana's family this time). 

The kids (and adults alike) had fun digging into their stockings to see what goodies were there.

Then they opened their gifts. My kids are very spoiled by their grandparents! They got some great new clothes and shoes, primarily.

The boys got some essential winter gear: Carhartt insulated bibs.  Now they'll be all set for future hunting seasons and snowy K-State football games.

We got Jo & Denny a new TV for their living room and new cedar shutters for their house.

It was a beautiful Christmas Day with temperatures almost in the 70s!  

When Violet and I stepped outside for a bit, we were greeted by Sam, Isaiah, and their babies!  My kids were SO excited that they could join us for Christmas.  Georgia is at a really fun age. . .

. . . and Daisy is just about the cutest baby ever.  My kids are in love.

We finished up our party with an intense Scrabble game that filled up the entire board.

And Violet-the-cat-whisperer brought Pumpkin-the-outside-cat inside.  This didn't last all that long, but Violet was loving on him for sure.

I'm thankful that Jo was feeling well enough to join us for our Christmas celebration and I'm thankful that all of the family was able to be together once again.  We are so blessed to have our family nearby to celebrate all of the special days, as well as just live life together on all of the everyday days.

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.