A Very Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Christmas brings such sweet thoughts and memories to me. During my childhood, Christmas was a glorious time of year. My Mom worked hard to create family traditions, and I just love the memories I get to hold onto. I love Christmas plays, Christmas church services, Christmas cookies, Christmas cards, pictures, and annual newsletters, Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas dinner, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, the Christmas story, and did I mention Christmas cookies?! Christmas is a busy, social time of year, where we celebrate the greatest gift ever given (Jesus) and take the opportunity to spread love & joy to all of our friends, family, neighbors, and strangers everywhere. I love it.

This Christmas has been tainted with a shadow of fear that it may be our last Christmas with Jersey #2. I wanted all of the memories to be perfect. In the end, very little progressed according to my plans...but all of my desired traditions progressed...and it was the most wonderful Christmas!

This year, we took the time to decorate the house indoors and out. We let the kids take the lead on the decorations, based on what was most exciting to them. During the cold winter evenings, we stayed warm indoors playing games as a family. We laughed and we spent time together. We bought a few Christmas-themed movies to enjoy together. We baked Christmas cookies, and even managed to deliver a few to some home-bound friends. The kids helped wrap presents for their grandparents. We made Christmas cards for coaches and teachers. We sang Christmas carols at a nursing home. We attended Christmas parties.

We did not do these activities every day. We did them over time, little by little, along with all the regular activities of work, school, and household chores. We still dealt with sibling rivalry, messy bedrooms, illness, grumpiness, and sadness. Needless to say, we were not perfect. In the midst of our real life, we enjoyed the celebration of Christmas.

This Christmas was extra-special. One reason was that we relaxed about the "chores" of Christmas traditions, and let the kids lead us on the path of excitement. Another reason was that we stuck to our budget. An even better reason was that Granny & PawPaw came to visit...

Granny & PawPaw set up a new tradition of visiting the homes of their grown children for Christmas. This year was our turn for them to visit and enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, along with Christmas dinner, with our family. I am certain that our children were more excited about Granny & PawPaw's visit than they were about the presents under the tree!

In addition, Granny & PawPaw brought with them a whole truckload of gifts. They brought up gifts from them, gifts from Nana (The Referee's Mom), and gifts from our exchange with extended family. Plus, they brought us a cooler full of frozen meat, sharing the side of beef that PawPaw was given by his employer. They brought winter coats, hats, and gloves for all of the kids. They brought new PJs for the kids too. They brought PawPaw's famous apple pie, a box filled with various Christmas cookies, a huge fruit basket, and another pile of miscellanouse junk food and soda. I almost said that all we had to cover were the vegetables for Christmas dinner, but they actually brought up a container of chopped veggies and Great-Granny's famous veggie dip! They filled our coat closet, our fridge, our pantry, under the Christmas tree, and every counter space we could find. Who needs Santa Claus when Granny & PawPaw are comin' to town!

We had such a nice visit. Jersey #2 tried to beat PawPaw at a game of chess, but he showed her that his chess skills were still top notch

We ordered pizza for dinner on Christmas eve, played games, visited, and took some pictures. When Jersey #4 prayed the blessing before our meal, she thanked God for the pizza and for Granny & PawPaw!

Our family enjoys the tradition of opening gifts in the evening on Christmas Eve. We started the fun with PawPaw reading the Christmas story, from the Bible.

The children were so excited about each of their Christmas gifts. They received everything they ever wanted...and more. They were quite surprised that everyone knew just what they liked. Jersey #1 received an American Girl doll as her gift from Granny & PawPaw. She was completely shocked that her uncle gave her the book collection to match her exact doll, as his exchange gift. She asked, just how did he know?! We enjoyed a good laugh about how it was almost as if our family had communicated (via email) some of the gifts we were giving, to complement the other gifts.

I admit that I had a bit of a hard time realizing how much my girls are growing up. Elmo, Dora, and Princesses are being replaced by American Girl dolls, Barbie, and the Jonas Brothers.

At least Jersey #4 still enjoys baby dolls and ducks. We are not sure where her duck obsession came from, but she has loved rubber ducks and stuffed animal ducks her whole life. She also enjoyed feeding her new baby doll a bottle that looks like it empties when it is tipped upside down.

Jersey #3 danced and shook and spasmed with each and every train and train set he opened. At one point, we questioned if it was hazardous to his health to be that excited! This child lives, eats, and breathes Thomas the train. (and I admit that I like that--because I do not have to worry about Thomas the train being dressed properly, or inappropriately sexualized, as is a terrible problem with some of the popular toys for girls).

Jersey #5 had more fun with the box!

After all of the gifts were opened.....followed by a lengthy opening of the packaging, and putting toys together, the kids played themselves to exhaustion.

Since Granny & PawPaw wake up when it is still dark outside, some of the children attempted to keep that schedule. Granny keeps them smiling with cookies for breakfast (can we actually call it breakfast if the sun has not come up yet?)

Jersey #2 could not wait to use her Easy Bake oven. It took a little parental effort to get it up and running this morning. That was a lot of work just to attempt to cook a mini cake with a light bulb!

It was all worth it to watch her take great care to bake her first self-made cake. She ate the whole thing herself too, saying it was very yummy!

We enjoyed a lunchtime Christmas dinner together, before Granny & PawPaw had to get back on the road toward home. The Referee whipped up some delicious terriyaki steaks, with some of the meat Granny & PawPaw brought us, along with sauteed squash & carrots. I filled in the sides...mashed potatoes n gravy, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and rolls. We had such a nice visit. We had such a fun time opening presents with the kids. We enjoyed celebrating Christmas together.

Our family enjoyed the best Christmas this year. It was filled with joy, not strife. The time spent together, having fun with our family, was perfect. I will carry the happy memories with me well into the New Year.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)