A Gnome Family Christmas

My sister, Marianne, has a collection of tiny soft-sculpture Gnomes, and I offered to take photos of them.
​​As a bit of background, there is Mama and Papa Gnome and their three babies. Then there's Oma, who is Mama's Mother, and Opa, who is Papa's Dad. They were all made by Deborah Downey.  The pig was made by Dale Zentner.
I started taking photos of them, and Marianne put them together into a story...but her story differed from mine. So I posted her version in my Blog as she released the individual episodes, but I'm posting my version here.
​

Heading to Oma's for Christmas

Papa had loaded up the sleigh, and the family was almost ready to head off to Oma's house

"Remember, we need to pick up Opa on our way"

Opa was Papa's father, and he was anxiously waiting at his gate to be picked up.

Everyone got comfortable in the sleigh...

..and off they went....

They arrived at Oma's house just in time for some dinner.
Oma: "Come in, come in!"  

Mama: "Everything looks wonderful Mother, thanks so much for inviting us"

Pieter the Pig found a spot at the head of the table and was anxiously waiting to begin.

Opa: "Hey that's where I wanted to sit"
Mama: "Pieter is part of the family and he can sit where he likes. Perhaps you could sit beside Papa."

Everyone was settled in and enjoying the feast.

​"Anyone for some fruit tart? People say I make the best."

"After dinner why don't we all go out for a little walk in the snow. It's so pretty outside."

So after dinner, everyone bundled up and headed outside for a walk in the snow.

Mama: "It's so lovely out here with the snow softly falling."

Oma: "Looks like your little ones are falling asleep. Better take Mina and Anika in and put them to bed. I'll bring Hendrik."

Oma:"There...... all tucked in. Better go see what those two men are up to, and find them something useful to do."

The fellas were still enjoying their walk.
Papa: "Did you hear that? Someone's calling"
Opa : "Sounds like she has some work for us, Son"

Having been asked to hang up the stockings, Papa and Opa get to work.

Papa: "Pass me up another one!"

"Hmmm.....I hope we get something good in these"

Then, at the end of the day, the family gathered around the piano for some Christmas carolling....

The sounds from all the boisterous singing and celebrating had woken up the little ones, but
Oma was quickly there to help quiet them down.

​"Pieter can help. He's very good at rocking"

(photo by Marianne)

The next morning was Christmas Eve day, and the snow was perfect for building a few snow-gnomes.

Papa had some big plans for the next snow ball...
Opa: "I don't know son, seems a little big."

​Mama come out to see what they were doing.

 "Oma and I are going to the village to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and I'd like you to look after the little ones. So don't be too long"

So the men came inside, and the ladies left.

​Papa loved to bake. So with the women away, and Oma not around to boss him around, he ventured into some Christmas baking 

while Opa watched the babies.

"Needs just a pinch more.."

The table quickly filled with yummy treats.

Pieter was a great helper but tended to make a bit of a mess.

So, with all the baking done, it was time for some clean up.

Papa had to make sure to get every bit of flour.....

Just as Papa was finished, he heard someone at the door. It was Ruben, his bear, who had brought a couple of Oma's ducks --- one who wasn't feeling well.

Papa was well known for being very good with animals, and able to heal most of their ailments.

"There, that should help with your sore throat. Now remember to follow my instructions"

Thinking he was done, Papa looked up to notice the ducks were not alone.....

Word had spread that Papa was in town.  It was going to be a very busy morning!

Opa came over; "Looks like you could use some help, son,"

But he was supposed to be watching the babies, so he took them out of the cradle, and stuck each one in a stocking, hung nicely out of the way where they could watch what was going on..

....and he pulled over a table, to make himself a little desk, and opened Papa's journal, so he could record everyone's diagnosis.....

"Now, tell me what hurts."

"Stick out your tongue, and say 'Ahhhhh..."

"Looks like you have a sore throat. Here, take some of this medicine, and you should be good as new in no time."

 
"Whose next?"

Finally, with the last of the animals taken care of, and gone, it was time to clean up.

"I'm ready for a drink!  How about you??"

Papa had discovered a full keg of beer in Oma's pantry, and after the crazy afternoon they'd had, they both felt they deserved some, so helped themselves to it, and settled in to relax.

"Cheers! to Oma and her beer!"

Meanwhile, the women were on their way back home after a lovely afternoon out, and some last minute shopping....

But back home, the unsuspecting guys continued their merry-making...

The women returned home to a surprising scene.

Oma: "What are you doing sitting around drinking my beer?!!
Mama: "You're supposed to be babysitting!!"

Mama noticed that Pieter has made himself comfortable in the cradle.
 "What are you doing in there??  Where are my babies!!???"

The women were upset and continued to give the men an ear full.

Papa pointed upward.... "Shhhh......you'll wake the babies..." 

They looked up, and to their surprise, the babies were all safely in the Christmas stockings high on the fireplace.
 " My babies!!......Anika!!...... Hendrik!!.....Mina!!!......Get them down!!"

So Papa climbed up the ladder to get the babies down...
​and tried to explain why they had put them up there...

​"Careful! careful!"

"There, there, Mina. Oma's here now."

Then while Mama and Papa got some final things ready for Christmas day, the Grandparents put the little ones to bed.
​This time, Oma, wasn't going to leave Opa alone with them.

*Next - Christmas Morning

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