Christmas Chronicles 2008

On Christmas Eve we had  a "Casserole Christmas Dinner" at Grandma Liz's, where the kids acted out the nativity and we sang Christmas Carols. It was rowdy but wonderful at the same time. Then we headed home to open our "night before" gift - the inevitable pajamas, and to exchange the gifts the kids chose for everyone. Mary was delighted that Madeleine picked out the exact make-up set that she coveted in the dollar store. Mary gave Beth a clipboard to draw on. Beth gave Mary a cell phone that sang songs in Japanese (and drove us nuts the rest of the night).  There were also pink head bands, Barbie Dolls in "appropriate clothes," and a bag of sour cream and onion chips in the mix. Madeleine gave me a notebook "because you're always saying, 'I have to write that down,' " and Beth gave me a little photo album "because you always want to take pictures of us." This is the first year none of the kids gave Luke a bottle of Diet Coke - he's kicked the habit. Then there were cute things that the girls made at school for Luke and I. The kids little gift exchange is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. After the gift exchange we traditionally read a few scriptures from an illustrated book and then listen to "Away In A Manger" while following along with the words in another illustrated book. I was surprised this year by the close attention the girls, even Mary, paid to the scriptures and pictures and I loved when they started to sing along to "Away In A Manager." Mary didn't know the words but she chimed in on the chorus and we ended up all singing together. Then, snuggled up in blankets and laying on pillows, we listened to Luke read "The Night Before Christmas" for our good night story. The girls went off to bed and Luke and I watched "A Christmas Carol". I was caught off guard when I headed for bed after the movie but Luke didn't come with me. What was he up to?

Christmas Morning - poor Madeleine woke up at 6:00 and tried to contain her excitement. By 6:45 she could bear it no longer and woke up Beth and they came to get us. Not wanting to wake Mary and have her grumpy all day and hoping to let Luke sleep a little longer,  I tried to hold the two of them off by reading to them. By 7:30 Madeleine was so frustrated she was in tears, but Mary woke up just after that and by 8:00 we were heading downstairs.  They dashed into the family room, dumped out their stockings, and tore into the presents. Three of my favorite moments: 1) when Mary opened her first present, a book, and said soberly, "Mom, this is not a lipstick," 2) Beth hugging her bear and pronouncing him "almost exactly" what she wanted 3) Madeleine opening her rock polisher and proudly introducing us all to her silicon carbide and aluminum oxide grit.  I unwrapped a box from Luke to find my Iphone inside. His mysterious late night project turned out to be downloading hours and hours of talks from LDS General Conferences and music to my Ipod for me to use in the car. What a husband! I've made good use of the gift since and I love it. 

We had a huge breakfast at home (seriously, I cooked enough for 12 people without even realizing it), relaxed a little bit, and then headed to Grandpa's. We had a truly white Christmas at our house (just what Madeleine had been hoping for), so Luke had to clear 6 inches of snow off the driveway before we could leave, but the roads were clear and we had a nice drive.

On the way we called my family in Maryland and had great visit via speaker phone in the car. They thanked Madeleine for the tree shaped ornament she sewed, Beth for the glittery pinecone ornament she made, and Mary for the wooden Christmas tree that she painted black. 

At Grandpa's, Nina served a yummy lunch, we opened more presents and the cousins ran rampant while the grown-ups lounged and visited.  By late afternoon the whole crew loaded up and caravanned back to Grandma Liz's for more food and more presents. You'd think the kids would've had enough already but within minutes of arrival the family room was strewn with paper and the kids were changing into new outfits and looking at their new  pop-up books. We lingered a bit, talking and winding down, and then drove home through more falling snow. We all went to bed happy, tired, and thankful for family. 

 

Each girl received a range of gifts including multiple toys, books, art supplies, music, movies, board games, and Wii games. However, they spent the vacation days following Christmas playing with broken up bits of styrofoam packaging and shreds of gift wrap, or building "huts" out of blankets and furniture. Remind me of that next year when I'm ready to go Christmas shopping!
On New Year's Eve day, Madeleine, Beth, and I took a ski lesson all together while Luke enjoyed the slopes on his own. I'd always heard how kids learn so fast, but seeing it happen still amazed me. When we arrived at the Brighton Ski School, they didn't even know how to put their boots on. When we left 2 1/2 hours later they were both getting on and off the lift unaided, skiing down the slope, and stopping without effort. I, on the other hand, was being told that I needed to "try going for the extreme and then pull back." Whatever. I wasn't about to ruin the rest of our Christmas break by ending up injured while pursuing "the extreme." I had fun though and I did learn a lot. In fact, I felt like I was just starting to really get the hang of it, which means that we have to go back soon before the girls and I both forget what we learned. 

After skiing we went to the Spangler's for a "New York New Year's".  Amy and Seth treated us to a yummy dinner and a fun movie and kid games. Then we watched the countdown on East Coast time and went home to bed at 10:00. On the way up to bed I explained to the girls how people here were still celebrating until midnight so they shouldn't be alarmed if they heard shouting or fireworks in the middle of the night. Unbeknownst to Luke and I, the little buggers faked going to bed and then spent the next two hours decorating Beth's room and having their own celebration while they waited for the fireworks to start. Madeleine enjoyed them and said they were great. Beth fell asleep at 11:50 and just had to take her sister's word for it. 

The best part of Christmas overall was getting to be together and having Daddy home. Along with activities mentioned above, we spent some time swimming at the rec center, Luke and I had a day-long shopping date, we had a pizza-picnic movie night, and played in the snow. Christmas gives us reason for a lot of excitement and fun surprises, but at this time of year when we think more about the influence a baby born in Bethlehem has had on the world, I am so grateful that He gave us families. To be together, to be secure, and to be able to enjoy fun times are truly blessings worth celebrating. Here's to family and finding joy in simple things for 2009!