On the Monday before Christmas....

We held the first Monday version of the Hall Christmas Eve program.  The meal was catered by Kneaders (yummy), the company was excellent, and Charon had put together a couple of sweet Christmas videos for our program along with the annual reading of the Christmas story.  This year it was read by Bruce Nakae, a nephew-in-law.

Crew Manning, Niki and Scarlett

It was fun for the 2014 great-grandchildren to be together.  Crew and Scarlett were born on the same day in July and then Niki in August.  Their moms had fun talking "baby stuff" together.

Jessica with Niki who is meeting the Hall
great-grandchildren for the first time

Scarlett playing with Hayden Nakae
with Aunt Jena's help

Austen and Tosha
This is Austen's first Hall Gathering so
it was fun to introduce him to his new cousins.
Background is Grandma Hall's basement where we all eat dinner-
soups and sandwiches from Kneaders

Great Grandma Hall's rocking chair
Scarlett's first "ride"

 

The Halls together in the living room.  I can remember our first Christmas eves with Jessica and Jacob BIrd and Matt, Bryon, Chris and Nathan Page. Now it is their children getting pjs from Great Grandma Hall.  Time goes by much faster than it seems.



Niki was a good sport with all of the
people who wanted to hold and love
him during his stay  in Utah.

Scarlett with her almost always smile on her face.

 Afterwards, we headed to our house to try to get a family picture as it is likely to be many years until we are all together for a picture.  I tried to find a professional person but no luck on such short notice.  Instead we just tried our new camera and our tri-pod.  The lighting was difficult and it was hard to get the babies attention when no one is standing at the camera.  Here is documentation we were all in the same spot in 2014.  The next day Jessica and Elessia headed to spend Christmas with Elessia's family in Arizona.

Jessica and Elessia with baby boy on the way (Liam)

Scott, Chantel, and Scarlett

Tosha, Austen and Niki

Jena

 Ben somehow missed on the solo Christmas pictures but here is him a bit later in the evening when gift were opened.

Ben with his new "Herbs" book

Jessica painted these cute piggy banks for Niki and Scarlett with their names on one side and their birthdate on the other.  I am not sure how I got such crafty daughters since I am not, but it is fun to see what they create.

 

A Christmas gift for Liam--his first shoes

Scarlett is telling us that the party is over for her.  That was a lot of activity for two little babies.  We are trying to get her to model her new cute hat but it was time to go.

There you have it--the last time we will likely all be together with pictures to prove it.  We hope to see Tosha, Austen and Niki one more time before they leave for Okinawa but if it happens it will be in late April a month before Liam's arrival and Jessica isn't committing to any pictures then.  They will be gone for four years.  That is a very long time until we might all be together again.  Love these people with all of my heart from the tallest to the smallest and everyone in between. 

Went to sleep with another big smile on my face.  Merry Christmas everyone!