Introducing my Massie grandparents — Layton (Pa) and Lillian (Ma) Massie.  They are my Dad’s parents, and they used to live in Staunton, Virginia.

Layton McCarthy and Lillian Forsythe Massie.

Heather with Lillian (Ma) and Layton (Pa) Massie.

Amanda and Lilli with Lillian Massie a couple years ago.

Although Ma and Pa are no longer with us, most of their kids and grandkids (as well as their great grand kids and their great great grandkid) gather at my aunt Kitty Lee’s home each year to celebrate Christmas.

I enjoy this outing and the chance to catch up with Kitty Lee and Glen (who live in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley), as well as my Dad and the rest of the Massie tribe.

This is the way we’ve celebrated Massie Christmas since the mid-90s.  Before that, we’d all gather at my grandparents’ cozy bungalow at 414 High Street in downtown Staunton, Virginia.

The pictures below were taken December 22-24, 2012.

Arriving at Kitty Lee and Glen’s house for Massie Christmas.

Kitty Lee and Glen Layman at home in Harrisonburg.

Kitty Lee always decorates so beautifully for the holiday.

Dave playing with Kitty’s cat, Whitney.

Kitty Lee’s most recent needle point project (one of two angles shown here).

Enjoying the Layman sunroom (that I helped design many moons ago).

A view of the Shenandoah Valley on a clear day…

…and then the snow rolled in.

And the hills and silos were shrouded by snowflakes.

Kitty watching the snow start to fall.

Massie family dinner. Thanks Dad, Kitty Lee, and Glen for hosting dinner.

The kids aren’t so little any more.

Michelle, Kitty Lee, and Dave looking over my grandparents’ high school yearbooks.

Pa was in the drama club…

…and on the baseball team…

…and on the basketball team too!

Dad and Kitty Lee trying to find their parents’ photos.

Kitty Lee Layman, Buddy Deaton, Heather Massie, and Maureen Deaton.

My cousin Michelle and her daughter Ryleigh.

Ryleigh and Michelle admiring ornaments that record our family history.

Lilli keeps us all in stitches.

Amanda (Lilli’s mom) and her sisters Chelsea and Kaitlin.

Exchanging Christmas gifts with Dad.

Birds enjoying the snow, including a cardinal (the Virginia state bird).