Maui: Christmas Day (Thursday Dec. 25)

Christmas Day: Mile 14 for snorkeling after opening gifts and a run, Lunch , DT Fleming, very crowded, quite th waves, sunset photog with Stanley, ham dinner, 2 truths and a lie, Kati 17 before dialing a phone, Christmas carols and songs, Apple to apple Bible version, all playing, photographs, so much laughingn

Christmas morning. A beautiful run along the golf course and down along the beach.

followed by breakfast and what's this - a few gifts?

Then back to the beach at Milepost 14 for more great snorkeling and relaxation. There's JD (no relaxing for him).

JD and Rachelle playing catch.

We came back to the house to eat a smorgasbord of leftovers for lunch.

Then it was back to DT Fleming, the highly favored boogie boarding beach. Highly favored by the greater population of Maui, as evidenced by the cars lined up on both sides of the road leading down to the parking lot. But whew, we found parking spaces in the lot and joined the throng on the beach. I should have photographed the multitudes there but I didn't. I ignored them and concentrated on the sunshine, the beautiful water, and the people I love! We made a group stop at Starbucks on the way back. Have I mentioned we frequented Starbucks with delicious regularity on this trip?

Stanley and I grabbed our cameras and drove down the road to the beach in hopes of another fabulous sunset, but it was just your average sunset.

I had more fun taking pictures of Stanley taking pictures!

I wonder what the story was on this one?

Steve ran out to where we were and got a ride back with us.

Christmas dinner was marvelous. Just look at that ham!

As the meal progressed and the ham got sent around for seconds, Rachelle remarked, "That's a lot of ham that we're going to have to eat." Just then Uncle Will put a nice pile of it on his plate. "Oh look, Uncle Will is helping with that!" she remarked. You had to be there. Her delivery was awesome!

After dinner, we sang Christmas carols, starting while dishes were being cleaned up. So beautiful and wonderful to listen to and harmonize with these talented singers, I can't even tell you.

We then played one round of "Two Truths and a Lie" and learned some very enlightening and funny things about each other. Then the whole gang, all 10 of us, played Apples to Apples again.

Will just loved it. He had so much fun. He begged to keep playing. Please don't let it end yet. I think right here he was pouting because the game was almost over. That Will, he loves table games SO MUCH!!! And Katelyn was nearly as excited about it as Will!

When you're having this much fun, you can't just go off to bed too early. Since we were all dressed rather nicely, it seemed a good occasion to pose for some pictures. Galen and Carol actually got photographed before dinner, so it seemed good to copy them.

Galen and Carol. Such a beautiful couple

Me and Will

The Steve Troyer family

The Ladies

The Ladies having fun!

Here we go!

Love these ladies!

(Thanks for the great photography, JD! Way to keep that camera clicking!)

The Men

The Men can have fun too!

What is it about these two that attracts photo bombers?

It was a very different Christmas, not being with our own kids and grandchild, but we were in touch and received lots of pictures of Kam opening presents! We were very blessed for this once in a lifetime Christmas experience in this beautiful location, celebrating the birth of Jesus with extended family who we love so much!