CHRISTMAS THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES!!

One of the highlights of our visit was the Christmas holidays.  We have many traditions that we hold to each year in our family, and one of them is going to the county park here, for their annual "festival of lights".  We meet in the parking lot of the county offices and everyone piles in to the back of my husband's pick up truck for the very short ride down to the entrance.  There were 5 adults and 10 children.  It was one of those cold nights in Charleston, so we were all bundled up with quilts and blankets.  When we arrived for the drive through to see the lights, our "son" was amazed and very excited.  He was joking, laughing and singing along with all 9 of my grandchildren.  We got out of the truck in the area where you can walk around, roast marshmellows & take a train ride through the woods.  All of the kids had fun yelling "Merry Christmas" to everyone, plus one voice with a very strong Ethiopian accent.  On the way out of the park all the kids were yelling out greetings, good-byes and a few other words in Amharic that our "son" had taught them.  It was truly a wonderful experience for all of us to see a 14 year old boy experience something he never dreamed exsisted.
Christmas Eve is always spent at my daughter Tracy's home.  Our tradition is to eat heavy appetizer in the afternoon, then off to church, and then back again for dessert.  All of the decorations, Christmas trees, the church decorated was something this young man had never seen.  Another Christmas eve tradition is for Nonnie to give each grandchild a Christmas ornament.  This included one for our "son".  A snowman inside a snowglobe.  He loved it. 
Christmas morning was a busy time.  We did gifts at our home first and oh my goodness what looks of delight on a boy's face who never received a Christmas present in his life.  He particularly liked the soccer shin pads he got and the soccer shoes.  He loved having his picture taken with each gift.  We always go to my daughter Tracy's house to exchange gifts with them and have Christmas breakfast.  That was another fun time of "firsts" for our "son".  He enjoyed watching my grandson's open there gifts and then having a turn to open his gifts from my daughter & her family.  He was most thrilled with the watch he received.  After that a ride to my other daughter's house, more gift exchanges.  Dinner was at my son's and we arrived earlier than the rest to exchange more gifts!!We all spent the early evening  having dinner and enjoying all the family being together.