Christmas Memories

I am always sad when Christmas season is over. It really is one of my favorite times of year...family, decorations, friends, yummy food, relaxing...love it all.
This year it was my parent's turn to travel. As much as I didn't miss the packing and being in the car for 13 hours, I missed being there. My parents arrive at 5:45 on Tuesday evening, and I am glad that weren't much later. The ugly forecast that had been predicted was beginning to come true. The freezing fog was starting. We were all thrilled when they pulled in the drive. Lots of warm hugs to go around and lots to talk about. The quickly brought in our first presents. They had picked them up in Kansas while driving trough -Frogospheres. Check them out from Brookstone. It's a cute aquarium with two African dwarf frogs that only need fed twice a week, and the water only need changed a few times a year. So much more fun than goldfish! :)
Shortly after they arrived, we loaded up the girls so they could go eat together. Brandon and I had a date night. Got to love having the parents come. :) We went to Red Lobster and enjoyed hot food and uninterrupted conversation. We then made a quick stop for a couple of last minute Christmas gifts. The girls got to bed late due to all the excitement.
Weds. we took our time getting ready, and then we headed to Hobby Lobby. My mom and I looked at sewing things, while my dad entertained the girls. He even whipped out candy canes from his coat pocket.
While the girls napped/rested, we were busy doing something. (I just can't remember). After the girls were up, we worked on our gingerbread trains. Lots of fun. Weds. evening we stayed home where it was warm.
Christmas Eve was a busy day. Brandon went into work, though he technically had the day off. He has some new responsibility that he needed to get a head's up on. Though I was sad he had to go in, I was supportive and thankful I had company. Mom and I slaved away in the kitchen most of the day. Thankfully, my mom enjoys this time, and I am so thankful for the extra fun and help! At lunch we went and grabbed Brandon a pizza and surprised him at work. It gave him a chance to show my parents around. It had been years since they had been there. We went home and continued in the kitchen.
We went to the Christmas Eve service at 4:00. It was packed, and all our family (Brandon's family, etc.) sat close together. I am so thankful. The girls were in the service with us, but they had been given little packets when we walked in the door. Inside the packets were coloring books, crayons and suckers. Analise was in our row eating her sucker, when Maisie (in the row in front of us, sitting on her uncle's lap) sees this, she wants one. So in a not so quiet whisper, she is asking us for a sucker. This all seems harmless until you know that Maisie hasn't learned her "S" sound yet, so her sucker pronunciation began with an "F." Humorous now, not so much then. :) Sadie was on either my mom's lap or my lap, and she was sheer entertainment. Grandma and Aunt S. were in the row behind us. Sadie continued to make funny faces at them. If not doing that, she would look at the screen and get excited (not so quietly) about what she saw. My favorite, though, was the second to last song. Sadie was on my lap, standing, while facing forward. We sang, "What Child is This?", and Sadie was moving her arms to the music, almost like an interpretive dance. She's never done that before. I got the giggles, and so did other family members around us. It was such a tender moment, watching her worship, yet at the same time down right hilarious! (Since then she has only done that one other time, and it about made me teary eyed. She has what's called "Sadie's song" by the girls. It's "Cannot Say Enough" by Mercy Me. It was playing the other day while she was at the table, and again she began moving her arms, like she was worshipping.)
Thursday after the service we came home and ate my favorite soup - Mexican Chicken Chowder. We then let the girls open a couple of gifts. Boy were they excited. :) They got bath things, clothes (and even at a young age, they get excited about clothes...I'm doomed.), crafty things and Wii Resort! :)
Christmas Eve, Analise wrote her first note to Santa. It was so cute! She also had reindeer food that she had made at school. Brandon debated where to put that so she wouldn't be looking for reindeer tracks in the morning. The agreed on the roof, since that's where Santa would land. :)
Christmas morning the girls got up 7:30ish. The girls opened their stockings, and then we had our traditional breakfast (thanks for all the baking the day before) of cinnamon twist coffeecake and egg casserole. Then it was back to gifts. We opened one by one, so it took quite awhile, but the girls didn't seem to mind. Analise's favorites were her two Webkinz. She got a turkey that she named "Gobbles" and a daschound that she named "Minnie." Maisie also got a stuffed doxie that she also named "Minnie." If you wonder why the same is so popular, that's my parents dog, that the girls love. Sadie got some Little People and Mr. Potato Head things that all the girls loved. I think we all rested that afternoon.
We then went to Brandon's parents for dinner. All his family was there, and we had lots of fun. The kids opened their gifts before we enjoyed a candle lit dinner of prime rib and other goodies. This was the first Christmas where I felt like we really needed to do a "Santa" gift. So each girl got one gift from Santa, and then they knew rest of them were from family. It was a super cold, blizzardy kind of day!
Saturday we ventured out to Target. We got some more Wii accessories, so now we have the capability to play up to four players. We relaxed throughout the day, made sugar cookies with the girls...though Grandmom ended up decorating 90% of them. :) Brandon, bless his heart, smoked a pork loin on the grill...despite the frigid temps.
After the girls were in bed, my parents and I went to the resort...the Wii Resort. Talk about fun and lots of laughs! My mom and I will never forget our cycling experience!
Sunday Brandon went turkey hunting. We went to church and then to Q'Doba for lunch. My parents were going to head home after that, but the roads still weren't good enough to travel. Bummer...:) We were so excited they stayed an extra day! I felt like it was the first time we all relaxed. A little football, playing with the girls and after the girls were in bed, the four adults played the Wii again. This time it was the canoeing that had us all in stitches.
Monday morning it was time for goodbyes. I hate goodbyes...that's one of the most appealing things about Heaven to me - no goodbyes.
Thanks, mom and dad, for making Christmas so special. We treasured the time together and are so thankful you were able to get here. We all miss you.
I think this year, I really tried to be like Mary, in pondering things in my heart. All our family was together and healthy. I never want to take that for granted. I knew of several families that were going to have a harder Christmas, with a loved one not being there. My heart ached for them, I prayed for them, and I thanked God again for my blessings.