Ekins Express

Christmas Eve at Home in Centerville

Four of my six siblings and I got to spend Christmas together this year with Mom and Dad. It was so much fun! Except that we really missed the Anderson's and the Lake's. There were seven grandkids, making it a total of 20 people in my parent's home! We were all snug as a bug... but all the more fun for Christmas. Mom and Dad went out of their way to make us all feel so comfortable and welcome - a warm home with lots of love, gifts, and good home cookin' (Thanks Camille for all the fun dishes and Mom for paying for them). The memories of this Christmas will stay with me for a long time, in many more ways than just one. ;)


Tom is great with the kids - here he's playing Ring Around the Rosies with six of the grandkids (baby Hattie will have her chance in a year or two) while they waited for Santa to come and visit.

These stockings have hung ever since I can remember. My mom made each by hand. I'm still amazed to this day why she chose an angel for me. She must have made it when I was born because whoa was she in for a surprise!


All seven grandkids got matching pajamas from Santa Clause that they got to wear on Christmas Eve. Thanks Mom and Camille! Pictured from L to R: Abby, Holland, Hattie, McKay, Adelyn, Ruby, and Elsie

Way too many presents!

Rita (my parent's Taiwanese daugher) made a delicious Taiwanese meal on Christmas Eve. We decided that as long as she's with us for Christmas, we're going to make this a tradition. So much fun and so yummy! Thanks Rita!

The Manger Scene with baby Hattie as baby Jesus, McKay as Joseph, Adelyn as Mary, Elsie and Matt as wise men, Holland as the angel, and Russ and Adam as shepherds.

The Ekins Clan hangin' with Santa!

My dad had a tradition with us kids that when he'd come home from work at night he'd throw his change from his pocket onto the floor and we'd all dive for it. This year he decided to use all of his collected change and throw it out for the grandkids to take a dive. It was pretty funny watching them scramble for pennies!

Abby on Santa's lap... she wasn't sure of him at first but warmed up after seeing all the other cousins sit on his lap. Abby wanted her Christmas dress on when she saw all the other kids getting dressed in Manger Scene apparel. I guess you could call her our dancing angel - there had to been a few of those there that night don't you think?

Angel Abby dancing while Mckay sang. The two of them became even better buddies this trip. It was entertaining to watch them play together - especially wrestle and giggle at the same time.