Christmas 2008

Christmas was really a wonderful time - stressful at times with the travel and a house full of people, but wonderful nonetheless. It was fun watching the kids actually open gifts and play with them.

One of the best things about the Christmas holiday was that Ben was off work from Dec. 24 to Jan 4. It was a wonderful break for Ben and wonderful for the girls to have Daddy around so much. I rather enjoyed it as well, since it meant I had lots of help and extra days to sleep late.

So, Auntie Kimmy (now known as Auntie), arrived the Monday before Christmas, Dec. 22. After a few days of shopping and packing we headed off to Mema and Grammy's on Christmas Eve. It was one of those trips that took FOREVER - 9 hours to be exact. It was just a lot of stopping: Uncle Jerry's to drop off paintings, an futile search for a certain bank, and a last minute trip to Walmart for gifts. Not to mention, potty breaks and diaper changes. The girls were incredible. Hardly a peep - just sleeping and playing.

Christmas in the mountains was lovely. But, the days were actually rather warm so we didn't have any snow. We didn't arrive in time to get ourselves together in time for church, but we dressed the girls in red Christmas pajamas and read "The Night Before Christmas" in honor of Ben's dad.

Christmas morning was lazy. Even Santa came late:-) We got up eventually, had breakfast, opened presents. The girls seemed to like their gifts. We got them several baby dolls and a stroller, baby play pen, baby swing that doubles as a high chair. They really like the stroller and play pen the most. They push the stroller empty and put their baby dolls and kitties (stuffed animals, not the real ones) in it to stroll as well.

The also received clothes, puzzles, a few books, some stuffed animals, gloves and hats, an abacus, some blocks, and crayons.

Our cousins arrived from Kentucky Christmas Day. Rachel and kids, Michael and Maria, joined us since husband, Mike, is serving our country in Afghanistan. They gave the girls the cutest outfits with matching shoes and some books. Wayne and Jane also arrived Christmas Day, and with Aunt Joyce (mema's sister who also lives in Franklin), it was quite a house full of family and love.

We also had a nice visit with my cousins Zena Pearl and Ed (ZP is my great-grandmother's brother's daughter). They have really taken to the girls. ZP gave the girls a very special gift: two bronze dinner size bells with Christmas tree tops. They belonged to my great-grandmother. When my granny died and her house was cleaned out, my Mema gave the bells to ZP, who collects them. She was kind enough to give them back to the girls. It really means a lot to me for the girls to have something of granny's.

Another special treat was sitting at the feet of my Mema with Natalie and Abby while she told us one of the stories she used to tell me as a child. We heard the story of "The Snake and the Rabbit". We videoed taped it so we will always be able to have that happy memory.


We returned home on Sunday and Poppy and Nanny were waiting for us with more presents. Natalie and Abby each received a little rocking chair from Cracker Barrel. The girls love them - not just for rocking but for climbing all over and standing in.

Monday, mom and dad stayed home while everyone else took the girls to Burlington to meet my dad's brothers and spouses for dinner. Ben and I thought it would be nice to have some quiet time. No, not THAT kind of quiet time. Just sitting in front of our respective computers surfing the net and playing video games. Very romantic.

Tuesday we spent the morning at the Museum of Life and Science. They have an amazing toddler space. It was a really great adventure for the kids this time, since they were able to stay out of the stroller and run around more. With so many adult bodies, we could keep up with them. When it's just me, it's harder for me to let them roam free since they tend to go in opposite directions. We had a great time playing in the toddler space, banging on the drums, and seeing the animals (and promptly identifying the sheep with "baa-baa"). We also visited the Butterfly House and rode the train. It was a really fun day.

Wednesday, Poppy and Nanny left for home and Auntie for Windsor, Va (where we went to high school) to visit friends. It was just mom, dad and the girls for about 18 hours. Mommy and Daddy spent a very uneventful NYE - again surfing the net and playing video games. That was after, however, a frantic and desperate search for Ben's wallet which I found just before midnight - on the bed in plain sight. Well, in plain sight under my sweater.


Thursday morning we packed up the girls to head to YaYa and Grampa's. It was also YaYa's birthday, so we had much to celebrate. We stayed a few hours and went to see the almost completed house (since the fire)*, and saw Jeff and Reagan, who brought even more presents! Natalie and Abigail loved their new fire truck with Mega Blocks, puzzles, and a Thomas the Train set with tracks.

The girls had a great time with YaYa and Grandpa. YaYa took care of them all day Friday while Grandpa was at work. I heard Grandpa had a hard time going back to work after lunch. Something about the girls running to him with arms extended and big smiles... Grandpa and YaYa had fun, but were pretty tired, I think, by Saturday. I do think however, that they will be up for more sleepover weekends in the future. We may try it every 5 weeks or so. I think it's so awesome Natalie and Abby can spend so much time with them. It's a priceless gift to them. Oh, did I mention Nanny and Poppy and Mema and Grammy are GREEN with envy? (sorry, grandpa, that there are not any pictures of you - I guess you were taking all of them!)

After leaving the girls in good hands (even better than I thought - see the excellent weight news below), we headed home to "kid-free weekend". It wasn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. It mostly involved putting our house back together after traveling and guests. It was just horrible - even by our standards. I had also been going through all the girls too-small clothes. At one point there was an actual mountain of clothes in their room at least 2 feet high and 3 feet across - maybe bigger. Abby had a lot of fun climbing up and rolling down them.

Saturday the girls returned with YaYa and Grandpa - very happy (practically ignored us when they saw us) and very well fed. Auntie returned shortly there after as well.

Life began to get back to normal on Sunday as we prepared for Ben to return to work, Auntie to leave on Monday and Mommy to be in charge again. Natalie and Abby have enjoyed their new presents and are incorporating them into their play.

All in all we had a great time over Christmas. We enjoyed seeing all our family and having Daddy home so much. I bet next year will be even more fun since the girls will really be able to get into Christmas, Santa and better begin to understand the true Christmas story.


* in case I forgot to mention it, YaYa and Grandpa's house had a fire about 2 months ago. No one was hurt, and they even saved most of their things. The recontruction is going very well and they should be back in the house next week!