Christmas with the Andrei

Christmas really started two days early with the Nutcracker ballet in downtown Portland. The music and dancing was wonderful. The snow scene was especially beautiful. Even though it was plastic it looked very real. Getting home again was a problem as we'd lost both chains and the roads were terrible! Their friend, Scot Gardner, rescued us at the stake center and took us up the hill.

On Christmas Eve the Andrei sponsored a sit down dinner party for 24! Half of them were children. There were three couples with their kids and a nice single sister and widowed dad. The dinner was fantastic with ham and turkey and several side dishes and pie for dessert. 

After most of the guests left and just the Gardners remained, we did the Christmas story with Grandpa narrating and the kids acting it out. Sam was an angel, Sydney wanted to be a shepherd and Maia was a wise girl.

Christmas day was fun watching the kids open their presents. Mike made some cute signs for the girls' room. He gave the boys a unicycle which they were very excited about. He knows how to ride one and wants to teach them. I'm hoping he'll demonstrate next time we have a talent show!