Christmas Eve

We had our Christmas Eve family gathering.

I thought our three looked pretty good walking in to Kerry's house.

Tanner, Holden, Parker

Uncle Nate w/ his dog Tucker

Ella w/ baby Jesus

We asked Brinley, just before it started, to record a message. It was fun to feel like she was there for a few minutes. Here are a few pictures from the night.

The group.  Uncle Alan and Aunt Aileen Pitt left early.  It's weird to have such a small gathering.  Usually we have invited a few friends or coworkers or missionaries.  Trying to keep it smaller with Covid.  Lft-rt: Ty Hill, Stevie Pitcox, Chris, Auv, La, Dylan, Holden, Tanner, Bri, Joseph, Kate, Gram, The Martins, The Kings behind the Martins

Emily & David on the couch, Brian, King family: Tyler (friend), Danielle, Laurel, Ashley, Briana & David

Top picture we were photo bombed by Trump and the bottom one by Uncle Kerry.  And if you look at any of our pictures over the years, this is as dressed up as Tanner gets!  

Gram and Grandpa

Jake Davidson, Charity Vore, Aubrey Gwilliam, Chris Vore (far back), Dylan Hill, Holden Vore, Tanner Gwilliam

We had snacks and visited.  Then we gathered for the talent portion of the evening.  It is a tradition to share talents as our gifts to each other.

Angelique Vore, Britney & Ella Bird, Beth Poyner, Quetta Pitcox

Erin Gwilliam (me)

Often each family will have a group talent or a representative. Aubrey has come through for us in the past couple of years with a dance or a skit w/ Lauron. This year I read a poem which captures 2020 so well. I changed a couple of lines up but it's copied from a YouTube video by Matthew West

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the place

Every smile was hidden by a mask on each face

To see Christmas morning, they hardly could wait

All gathered together in groups no more than 8

And making quite sure that every single germ was dead

There was no scent of Christmas, only Lysol instead

But oh my my, oh well well, Does it really even matter?

We’ve all lost our sense of smell

Amazon brought all our boxes to town

We got out the Clorox and wiped them all down

Mom glued to her laptop, online shopping in a trance

While the kids were rehearsing their next Tik Tok dance

Then we all took a vote, who was naughty, who was nice

But the results were disputed because some voted twice

With each sugar cookie, my weight it did mount

So I yelled to the scale, I demand a recount

Less money for spending but oh what the heck

Maybe next year they’ll send us a stimulus check

The children finally nestled snug in their beds

As nightmares of virtual learning danced in their heads

And mothers and father exhausted a plenty

Bowed their heads and gave thanks we survived 2020

Then down through the chimney w/ all of the loot, 

Came Jolly old Santa ...in a hazmat suit

With a HO HO Ho he said, I’ll see you later

You may be in short supply so I brought you some toilet paper

Yes he quickly appeared and then quickly he went

Santa Claus the ever fun event

Now on Kings, Pitts, Birds, Gwilliams, Vores and Martins too

This last part of the story is for me and for you

To a world that’s in darkness, may we all be a light

A Covid Christmas to All and to All a Good Night

Lauron Vore sang O Holy Night and it was gorgeous.  Danielle King brought her boyfriend Tyler and they did a cute rendition of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.

The Chris Vore group strayed from their usual musical talents and performed a balancing trick.

Jake & Charity, Joseph & Kate, Chris and Ang

Kate Martin sang Rudolph.  She is the cutest.  

The Birds performed Jingle Bell Rock with some really cute actions...plus the boys were both rocks.  Brit and the girls would sing Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bell and the boys would peak their heads up from their Comfies and say ROCK.  Pretty cute.

Brit, Ella, Char, Braddock and Hudson

We had our traditional handstand contest.  Charity, Danielle, Tyler, Joseph, Kerry and Nate were in it.  Danielle won! (again....seems to be a King most years.)  We have an adult and a kid version.  Hudson was the only kid who wanted to participate this year.  We are kind of low on kids in the Vore fam...they have all grown up into teens and young adults.  Anyway, he won by default.

Back to our shortage on little kids...we had to ask for everyone 16 and younger to come.  Tanner conveniently had to go to the bathroom, but Holden, La and Aubrey were good to participate.  And Dylan, who is 21, came as well.  David King read the story of the birth from Luke 2 while the kids walked in dressed in costumes.

Grandpa told the group to take off their masks and not to breathe.  I think some of the kids probably did hold their breath  Left-rt: Aubrey, Charlotte, Holden (Joseph), Kate (Mary), Hudson (star), Dylan, Lauron, Isaiah, Ella and Braddock

Merry Christmas 2020.  We are very blessed.