Hello Houston and Merry Christmas

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Flew to Houston to meet up with Jan and Charles and to spend Christmas with them and their family....all 43 of them.

As you can see by the photos Jan has quite the christmas spirit in and around her home and what a tree!!!

Look at all the presents and all so beautifully wrapped.... except for one.

We had been out shopping earlier in the day and Charles was told that he had 2 presents that he had to buy, which was fine. While Jan and Charles went in one direction Ian Robert and I went in another until we bumped into each other and the boys had to stop for a chat and that was the end of their shopping... Jan and I browsed while Robert Ian and Charles became our base station to return to.

When we returned home Charles disappeared and then we heard this hysterical laughter coming from their bedroom when we went to look why... there was Charles with his present that he had "wrapped" for Robert as you can see it is not quite the same standard as the rest.

Jan says she will not be asking Charles to do any wrapping anytime soon.....

Some of the Bears that you see are from Robert and they have sort of become a tradition.... a "Build-a-Bear" is one where you choose the bear or Koala in this instance and then decide what outfit he is going to wear and I assume that each year at Christmas there is a new "christmas outfit " for the bear.

Jan said she would be very sad if there was a Christmas without one of Robert's special bears.

On Christmas Eve Robert and I made a Pavlova with heaps of cream and put it on the Pavlova Plate Tibby gave Robert for his birthday. Also some small peach cakes as our contribution to Christmas lunch tomorrow.

Later in the evening Charles, Robert and I went to church for their Christmas Service... Robert wanted me to experience the Candlellight Service it was quite emotional. All the lights are turned off in the church and there is only one candle alight...this candle then lit another candle which then lit 2 candles and so on until the whole church was bathed in candlelight then to add to this the Choir sang my favouritest carol "O Holy Night" which bought tears to my eyes ... what a softy I am!!!

I just love Christmas Carols just ask Kate and Robert they can't wait till christmas is done so they don't have to listen to them anymore. I even tried to find out if I could get "Carols by Candlelight" on the internet so that I did not miss out on my yearly dose but going to the church service was special..... thank you Robert and Charles.

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Photos

Leaving Las Vegas...
in case you have any money left you can spend it at the airport lounge while you are waiting for your flight

Comments

[Bruce]

Looks like the Church Christmas Carols is a big thing in Houston. Looks good. Cheers, Bruce.

[Kate, Fiko & Noah]

WOW!!!
Wow what a massive church!!! I see what you mean about Jan really getting into the Christmas spirit...it really puts my little tree to shame!!! And don't worry we taped the christmas carols for you!!!

[Glenny]

must be the fish in us
I do every Carols too...wot a surprise...then I teared up now reading how you are a softie....wot does that make me? Well with all that heat from the candles there must have been some bubbles somewhere but can't see any trace?