Christmas Celebrations: Take One

The Saturday before Christmas, we celebrated in Lindale with the Matkin side of our family.  We had a packed afternoon with a barbecue lunch, a play, and present opening.

At our Thanksgiving get together, my cousins and I planned a live nativity for the second cousins to perform.  Mary Grace read the Christmas story as the different characters acted it out.  Our young performers and the audience really enjoyed it and next year we have plans to make it a play with speaking parts.

Caroline loves to act and was thrilled to be Mary.  She was so proud of the crib she made.  Abby took her role as angel seriously and made sure to flap her wings gracefully.

 

 After the Christmas story, they sang two songs for us.

 Presents were next on the agenda.  The girls waited patiently for their turn as we watch what everyone opens and go from youngest to oldest.

 Grandmother gave them a new critter school and store.

 Bubba got busy with the scissors.  The kids played with their new toys while the adults played the steal game.

Grandmother gave Brent and me some Dragon stadium seats.  These will be great at the swim meets this summer and we hope to attend more football games as the girls get older.  Abby is testing one out in the pic below.  It was a fun day with the Matkin side and a great way to start the Christmas celebrations!