Hyper-Connected Christmas Eve

A great tradition of our family is to gather at the kitchen table after Christmas Eve festivities, drink hot chocolate and talk with each other. As we did so this year, we suddenly realized that we were all connected to the Internet, interacting on Facebook, Twitter and blogs using a variety of devices – extending our Christmas Eve chatter to people far removed from our physical home. Not shown in this photo are my iPhone and the desktop computer on the kitchen desk behind me as I was taking the photo.  Just another example of how technology has changed and enriched our lives. 

With sincere apologies to Holly for a very unflattering photo!

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Merry Christmas from the Dixon Family

A Christmas Card from our family to yours. May you have a happy holiday season and wonderful new year!

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Christmas Eve Music

Following a long tradition, we gathered to share musical talents last night after Christmas Eve dinner. Maybe the big hit of the night was Devlin belting out "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" with a bit of coaching from his mother and helpful smiles from Eve.

We couldn't help notice how the earnestness of his delivery so matched the boyhood mannerisms of his father!

Claudia and Holly tickled the ivories with a great four-hand rendition of "Jingle Bells."

Thanks to everyone who sang and performed so well, even though your photo is not included here. We are were uplifted and inspired by the wonderful message of Christmas.

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

Christmas Eve

At some time in the future, she may tire of the play on words, but last night, with Santa hat in hand and festivities in full swing, it seemed so fitting to call Eve "Christmas Eve."

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

The Nativity

Every year on Christmas Eve, we read the story of the birth of Christ from the books of Luke and Matthew in the New Testament as we celebrate the miraculous birth of the Savior of the World.  Each year, the actors are a little bit different, depending on the age and availability of our children and grandchildren.

This year, Dave and Rachel were Joseph and Mary, with baby Iris blissfully acting as Baby Jesus.

Holly was the lone shepherd who came to the stable as instructed by angels.

Three wise men, Eve, Devlin and David, soon joined the Baby Jesus to offer their precious gifts.

I can still remember my Dad reading this wonderful story each Christmas Eve when I was a little boy.  We can only hope that our grandchildren will continue the wonderful tradition.

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

Christmas Eve Dinner!

Tonight we celebrated Christmas Eve with a wonderful family dinner at our home. Our dining room table comfortably seats only ten people, so Mark built a seven foot extension with folding legs to enlarge our eating space accommodate all sixteen of us at once.

Claudia found great Christmas themed plates and created great decorations.

But the best thing was the food! We all put any dietary goals on hold and stuffed ourselves accordingly.

More family holiday photos are on Mark's Flicker page.

Merry Christmas!

Beneath the Mistletoe

Last week, Holly sang the solo part in "All Alone Beneath the Mistletoe" at the the Taylor Junior High Christmas Concert. In the words of our next door neighbor, a wonderful tenor soloist himself, "She nailed it!"

We are thrilled with Holly's love of music and budding performance abilities.  What a beautiful young woman!

Puzzling New Years

What would New Years Eve be at the Dixon home without a puzzle? Claudia started this one about 10pm on New Years Eve. Mark helped to get the border in place before he fell asleep. Eric, Ryan and Holly contributed after they returned from their respective New Years festivities. Claudia and Mark put the final pieces in place after they awoke on New Years Day.





The house has been appropriately "de-Christmased." The corner where the Christmas tree stood is bare ...





... and the decorations are neatly tucked back in the closet. It was quite a puzzle just get them back in place!





So, there you have the sum total of our spectacular photography this week. Things are pretty much getting back to normal after the holidays. Mark, Eric and Ryan are back at work. Holly is back in school and starting some intense practice for the upcoming production of The Music Man at Taylor Junior High. Claudia is immersed in Young Women stuff. Dave and Rachel returned with their kids from their Dalton family excursion to California. Myron and Angie are in withdrawl because their high def TV had to go to the shop for repairs. Amy got back from her visit home during the holidays, but went to San Diego this weekend. Claudia accompanied Dave and Rachel as they sang "Come, thou Fount of Every Blessing" at a stake fireside tonight. Mark heads back on the road tomorrow, just in time to miss three family birthdays. Yep, our "un-eventful life" is pretty much back to normal.

If you haven't checked lately, you can see more family photos (from previous weeks) on Mark's Flickr page.

Good night, and God bless!

Christmas Morning Excitement

We had a wonderful Christmas day. Angie, Myron and Chloe came to our home at 9:00 AM to help us open presents. Dave and Rachel brought Devlin and Eve a while later. You can see our Christmas morning photos on Mark's Flickr Christmas Morning photo set, but here are just three to whet your appetite:

Chloe loved being right in the thick of things - helping everyone open wrapped gifts to see what was inside!





Eve loved her her baby bottles and her new doll. Now, just what one should I use?





Devlin's Christmas revolved around the movie, "Cars." Cars jammies, a Cars lunch box, and, of course, Cars cars.





More family photos can be viewed on Mark's Flickr Photostream.

God Bless you all, and Merry Christmas!

Celebrating Christmas Eve

For the seventh consecutive year, we celebrated Christmas Eve with Rachel's family, alternating homes each year. Paul and Lana Dalton were our gracious hosts this year. We enjoyed a wonderful meal, had great musical entertainment and paused for a few minutes while Mark read about the birth of Christ from the gospels of Luke and Matthew.

Devlin sang "Silent Night" with all of us, and then sang an encore solo, "When Somebody Loves You," from Toy Story 2. Devlin loves to sing as he grows up in the footsteps of his talented parents.





Rachel favored us with "Birthday of a King."





David sang "O Holy Night," with such power and range that he gave us all goose bumps!





Mark read the Nativity story from Luke 2 and Matthew 2, reminding us once again of the miracle of the Savior's birth which we celebrate at this wonderful time of year.





More photos of the wonderful evening we shared are on Mark's Flickr Photostream.

Good night and God Bless!

Love those Grandkids!

Claudia and Eric flew to Portland last Tuesday to help Heidi and her new son. Mark joined them Friday night after his business trip to Texas and California. The highlight of Saturday was cutting a fresh tree from a nearby Christmas tree farm. Gotta love that fresh pine smell and the smiles on little boys' faces!



Little Gavin is wonderful! What a thrill to hold him and think of the miracle of birth! His big brothers are delighted to have a little brother.



And, of course, Granny is delighted! It is going to be hard for her to return to Arizona.



If you want to see more photos, please visit Mark's Flickr photostream.

Thanks for stopping by.