Christmas at Home

Our typical tradition is to use Christmas Eve to trade presents from all the kids to one another, but since Noel would not be with us, we celebrated that a few days earlier when she was with us.   These presents are often silly, and often just little things picked up at the dollar store, but always things that we treasure.   This year Davis went all out with an Alabama Dad (while I am clearly a bandwagon fan, I have thus far avoided dressing myself with this school, but perhaps this hat will help college kids recognize me, and help me if I ever get lost on campus or in the stadium again) for me, and an Alabama sweatshirt for mom.   He also got Sam a weirdly packaged present, that hilariously Belle looked at and said "That looks like a Steering Wheel Cover for a 2004 Chevy Impala".   And she was correct.   

Ruby got the boys some cool posters, and I think Belle got the boys some socks.   Belle got me the annual box of mike and ikes that I LOVE.   Ruby got Mom an advent calendar of beauty supply stuff that she showed her how to just open all at once, like the calendar Mom got for her and Belle.   There were some pickleball purses, some baseball cards, some hot wheels, and a weird purple cover for hair.  Belle and Ruby "helped" Magan with her new beauty stuff, and we laughed at whatever goo they put on her eyes and lips. Sam and Noel got their very first Christmas ornament, to perhaps begin the yearly tradition that Magan started for us.   Then Noel almost put Magan in tears with her gift of some Kendra Scott earrings that Magan had really wanted.   She did not know that Noel had overheard.   And then she surprised me as well, awarding me the 2025 Above and Beyond "Blogger of the Year".   I did not know she had even submitted my name for this prestigious award, and really was surprised to win.   There is a video of my acceptance speech that I had to record that evening.   And it is really something I share with all of you readers, especially my newest and sweetest one, Noel!   

When Christmas Eve did arrive, it was fun to hear the kids all laughing together in the kitchen as they all made the annual cookies.   Ruby cracked up when her cookie lost an arm, so it had to be replaced with a toothpick.   I think I was starting to get a bit of the crud going around, or perhaps I was just avoiding the cookie scene that is more of mom's thing, but I love seeing their creations, and love that they still enjoy these times together.   

You never know when it will be your last, but this felt like the last one with Sam with us on Christmas morning.   Only time will tell, but it was wonderful to have him there with us on Christmas morning, even if he had to drive away around 10 that morning to be with Noel.   It was a wonderful Christmas morning, with Ruby setting her alarm for 6 or 6:30AM...I don't know, it was mighty early.   I think all liked their Christmas surprises from Santa, but got even more excited when all the presents from mom and dad were stacked up around them.   As is tradition, instead of placing names on the presents, we wrap each kids presents in a different wrapping paper, then they have to guess who's is who's.   All of them made a guess, and only one was correct, but which one it was, perhaps the kids will remember...I do not.   

There were lots and lots of presents.   I remember Davis loving his boots.   But honestly don't really remember any others specifically.   But Belle helped me bedazzle a remote control for Magan, and that was special.   And we finally got our Mom a robe!  And it was on Sale!   After Sam left, I think the rest of us slowly passed out.   Christmas day ended with a Huddle House dinner, which is probably one of the best places it could end.   And even tho our coupons were one day early, and we could not use them, we were thankful to squeeze in together and laugh each time Mom dropped food onto her boobs.   Merry Christmas to All!

 

Christmas Caroling with the Church

As was learned in The Christmas Story Christmas, there are two classes of people when it comes to carolers.  "The first school [of carolers] believes it is a gift to the world, the second school... believes carolers to be a scourge set upon the earth to pillage your time and ravage your patience."  I live in the land in the middle, where you are asked to put this on the calendar and make it happen by the first school, then behind the scenes the second school requests that you avoid their home.   But with a little preparation, we were able to include only those in the first school.   And that group was really excited about the visit from the kids.

Our group began with a lunch after services at Panera Bread.   There we had some good sandwiches and soup, and Claire made everyone some cupcakes.   We split up our group of 20 into 2 groups of carolers, and one group took the Wilsonville side, and my group took the Hwy 41/43 folks.   I am glad we split up because we did not have to rush and could spend a little more time with our friends we caroled.   

We began with Linda Taylor, but also got to visit with Julie and Lauren Bookout there.   Julie was awesome and made us all goodie bags.   So we did not get any figgy pudding, but we did get some candy.   We next rolled over to Darrell and Barbara Baker, who are basically another set of grandparents to our children.   So it was great to hang out with them for a moment, and funny when Darrell ran to the kitchen as we sang "We won't go until we get some"...and he also did not have figgy pudding, but he did have some awesome cookies.   Then we drove out to Retha Vinsants, which is like the longest 12 miles down Hwy 43, but we had a great time visiting.   I think Magan may have overstayed, when she made Retha show her every picture in every hallway, to get every Vinsant story there was...which was typically not a problem, but I was hoping to also carol the Geralds and Harrisons since they are our neighbors.   And I told them we would be there soon.

Well we were much later than I thought, and the Geralds and Harrisons had been waiting out in the cold on their porch for us.   And I won't even mention that Magan stopped at 7 Brew (Serenity Now!) keeping them waiting even longer.   But we finally got there and really had a great time visiting with all of them.   The Geralds and Harrisons are just tough people anyway, and they are the best people.   We could have never asked for better neighbors.   And just for Flynn, I threw out a little Randolph the Bow-Legged Cowpoke, and knew my dad would have been proud, even tho I am pretty sure I butchered a few of the lines I could not remember.   

One of my other favorite parts of this day was hearing little Ruby and Claire singing the "extra" parts of Rudolph.   And we never got any figgy pudding.   The other group was able to visit Pat Wyatt, and at all the homes we also sang "Above the Bright Blue", which was Mrs. Pat's mothers favorite song.   We also sang Jingle Bells at each of the homes.   I think the other group also made it to Ms. Donnis Cox, and to the Hidden Acres home where Marji Noble lives.   It was a fun day.