Christmas Eve at Bear Jr’s House

[Bearcarver]

Christmas Eve at Bear Jr’s House

My extended Family started getting together on Christmas Eve before I was born. I can remember when it was at my Grandparents house, then my Dad’s house, then my Brother’s house, Then it was our House. Each change was due to the number of Family members, and the size of the home.
Since the Bear Family keeps getting bigger, a few years back we all moved our Christmas Eve get together to Bear Jr’s House, because he has the Biggest House, and He & Bethany (his wife) are Great Hosts!!
Bear Jr does a great job getting the Gingerbread Villages put together, so that each of the Little Girls has 5 Gingerbread houses to decorate, and take home with them.

I’ll make this short, because I have descriptions above each of the pictures (Below).

Hope You Enjoy,

Bear







Gotta start somewhere, so I’ll start with the items Mrs Bear made to take to the Christmas Eve Party.
Strawberry Trifle (Alternating Pound Cake, Vanilla Pudding, Whipped Cream, and Strawberries, Topped with a layer of Strawberries)
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2167.jpg.html




Picture of same thing from the top:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2169.jpg.html




Mrs Bear’s Cookies and Peanut Butter Meltaways. Also a jar of M&Ms for people to guess how many M&Ms to win the Jar of M&Ms:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2177.jpg.html




Mrs Bear’s Pumpkin Roll:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2217.jpg.html



Mrs Bear’s Crab Dip Ball & Crackers:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2182.jpg.html




Bear Jr’s Wife’s (Bethany) Pine Cone Dip Mix and Crackers:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2181.jpg.html




Close-up of Pine Cone Dip (covered with Almonds to look like Pine Cones):
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2178.jpg.html




Bethany’s Cheese & Grapes Christmas Tree:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2179.jpg.html




Bear Jr’s Main Course “Ziti” and Sausage & Meatballs:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2187.jpg.html




The Cold Drinks:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2186.jpg.html




The Punch:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2184.jpg.html




This has become a Tradition at Bear Jr’s Christmas Parties with Bear’s Family.
Bear Jr puts together a whole bunch of Gingerbread houses, and the Kids get to Decorate them:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2188.jpg.html




Here you can see they each get 5 houses in their Village to Decorate:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2193.jpg.html




Here’s another one:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2203.jpg.html




And the real little ones get to Decorate their own Gingerbread Man, instead of a Whole Village:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2190.jpg.html




Meanwhile Bethany helps another one of Bear’s Great-Nieces make a Christmas Ornament:
http://s836.photobucket.com/user/Bearcarver_2009/media/DSCN2199.jpg.html

 

[gary s]

Now that's a good looking bunch, and what a neat idea with the Gingerbread houses.  Great looking food, Ziti is one of my favorites. Every time we go eat at Little Italy I get Ziti or eggplant parm.

I know everyone has to look forward to that every year

Gary

 

[smokin phil]

.

 

[worktogthr]

That's a great looking meal and a great tradition.  We started something similar with my daughter and her cousins.  We go to my aunts house a few days before Christmas and build gingerbread houses and have dinner together.  I love seeing the Yuengling in that cooler.  Brings me back to my college days and St. Joe's in Philly!

 

[ak1]

Great pics & a great tradition John. Thanks for sharing.

 

[humdinger]

Love the pics of all the kids making gingerbread men and houses. Now that's old tyme family Christmas fun.

 

[Bearcarver]

THAT'S what Christmas is all about!! Family. Not gifts, or even food (although the food is great too). Family. People. Love one another.

Thank You Phil !!

We had another big one the Sunday before, for Mrs Bear's side of the Family, at her Niece's house, but somebody forgot the camera.

Bear

 
Now that's a good looking bunch, and what a neat idea with the Gingerbread houses.  Great looking food, Ziti is one of my favorites. Every time we go eat at Little Italy I get Ziti or eggplant parm.

I know everyone has to look forward to that every year

Gary

Thank You Gary!!!

It's always a Great time!

And Thanks for the Point !!

Bear

 

[tropics]

That is some really nice tradition.The decorations are fantastic.Love seeing the girls having fun I have 5 Grand daughters. Thanks for sharing.

Richie

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Great food and fun times Bear!

 

[Bearcarver]

 
That's a great looking meal and a great tradition.  We started something similar with my daughter and her cousins.  We go to my aunts house a few days before Christmas and build gingerbread houses and have dinner together.  I love seeing the Yuengling in that cooler.  Brings me back to my college days and St. Joe's in Philly!

Thank You Chris!!

LOL----Gotta have Yuengling in Pennsy'!!

Bear

 
Great pics & a great tradition John. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Buddy!!

Bear

 

[sota d]

Great looking family Bear! Looks like everyone had a great time. And delicious looking food- I think I gained 5 pounds just looking at it! Thanks for sharing, Wishing the best for you and yours, David.

 

[xray]

Those are some great looking pictures, Bear! Looks like everybody had a great time...and the kids will cherish those holiday memories forever that your family has provided.

Happy new year!

 

[Bearcarver]

 
Love the pics of all the kids making gingerbread men and houses. Now that's old tyme family Christmas fun.

Thank You Sir!!

That's a real hit with those Little Girls!!

Years ago I took each of their pictures sitting with my Big Bears. They liked that.

Wasn't as many little girls back then.

Bear

 
That is some really nice tradition.The decorations are fantastic.Love seeing the girls having fun I have 5 Grand daughters. Thanks for sharing.

Richie

Thanks Richie!!

See above.

And Thanks for the Points!!

Bear

 

[Bearcarver]

Great food and fun times Bear!

Thank You Case!!

It was a Great Time!!

Bear

 
Great looking family Bear! Looks like everyone had a great time. And delicious looking food- I think I gained 5 pounds just looking at it! Thanks for sharing, Wishing the best for you and yours, David.

Thanks David!!

Best to you & yours also!!

Bear

 

[Bearcarver]

Those are some great looking pictures, Bear! Looks like everybody had a great time...and the kids will cherish those holiday memories forever that your family has provided.

Happy new year!

Thank You Xray!!

And Happy New Year to you & yours!!

Bear