Christmas Day at the Johnstown Albertsons

Christmas 2008 at our house was different than any other in recent memory. This is the first Christmas with our two oldest sons married and living out of state. Both of them and their precious families were here for Thanksgiving this year, at which time we exchanged gifts like most people do at Christmas. Randy, Joy and their son Quil went to South Dakota to be with Joy's family for Christmas. Brenda and Tim went to New Jersey to be with Brenda's family for Christmas week.

So we were 'all alone', with just the six of us current Johnstown Albertsons. We wish that we could have spent some time with each of you, but I suppose you were all busy with your own family activities... Maybe next year!

I (Rowen) am off of work from Dec. 25 - Jan. 1, so we have plenty of time to just be family. We have a minimal agenda each day, only that we please the Lord with our attitudes, actions, activities, and words, and that we try to be a blessing to one another.

On Christmas Day, Janet decided that each one of us should choose and prepare a dish for dinner. Some had help, but were primarily responsible for that particular food. It was kind of fun.

I (Rowen) got to carve the pre-sliced ham ;-))

Janet helped Jason with his salad project.

Jeffrey made yummy green beans, but here he was making salad dressing.

Beth made our favorite potato casserole, in which she used frozen french-fries rather than the hash-browns that the recipe calls for. That turned out really good!

Jason chopped up several different things for the fresh lettuce salad

Emily made brownies

Here is Janet rinsing stuff out along the way...

Ready to eat!

This is how they looked:

After we ate and cleaned it up, we all went on a 2+ mile walk in the 40'F, sun-shiny day.