Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013. It’s hard to believe isn’t it. As you probably know by now our family has a lot of traditions that we follow. Some are legitimate and some are just kind of made up. One of the traditions that we do in our family is to play a game of euchre with the boys on Christmas Eve and the first one who has 15 points wins.

Let the games begin!

With a lot of talk going on at the table and even some nervousness when it gets close to the end of the game, I hate to say it but the boys won. Now to Daryl’s and my defense, the score was 15 to 14 so it’s not like they won by a lot or anything. But I’m thinking that they are gloating, what do you think?

OK, ok, they won.

Then off to exchange gifts within our family. This tradition started a long time ago when Kyle was little. He was so excited for Christmas and presents, that we decided to exchange names and gifts the night before. That way he could open one present up before he went to bed. We were really excited when William came along and joined the exchange. Otherwise three people drawing names.. well let’s just say it wasn’t a big secret. Then watching some TV and off to bed we went. Now one tradition that we didn’t do this year was to stay up and call my brother at midnight. It started out many years ago as a phone call that turned into pranking each other at midnight.For some reason this year I didn’t call him. He called me, so he’s thinking that he won. See the whole trick is to have the closest to midnight on their phone. Sometimes some of the other family’s play along too.  Oh well, there’s always next year, so be ready!! The best prank was when some of my family was in our barn at midnight and then left the farm throwing fire crackers in the yard to wake us up.  And to beat it all, my MOM was with them. Hum… I’m not sure who’s idea it was, but there sure was a lot of laughing about this night the next couple of days!

Finally it’s Christmas morning and of course Kyle is the first one out of bed and checking out to see if and what gifts are under the tree. In our family, the gifts of Christmas are not seen until the morning. The boys take turns opening their gifts and we really had fun. I know that I’ve said this before, but we are so lucky to have both boys home again for Christmas. I’m sure that someday that might not always be the case and I try not to think about that so much and only enjoy the moment. I think what I like the most about it is the noise that the kids bring. It kind of makes your house alive or something.

I always make the kids stand in front of the tree for a picture on Christmas

After gifts were opened we had breakfast of an egg bake and then the boys put together an air hockey table that was a family gift. I laughed when William said that he wasn’t sure when the idea turned to have the kids put together the Christmas stuff. But you know what? It was a really good idea.

Putting together the air hockey table

It didn’t take long and they were playing

While they did that, I put a ham in the oven and some potatoes in the crock pot for dinner. Now I don’t usually make a ham very often so I’m not sure if that’s why it smells so darn good or what. But we couldn’t wait until it was done and we were sitting on the table to eat. After our bellies were full, we cleaned the table off quick and headed to the hospital so see Mom. I can’t lie, it was kind of  weird to think about Mom in the hospital at Christmas. She looks forward to Christmas all year and also shops for it all year. But it’s the best place for her right now and once she’s feeling better we’ll have Christmas at her house. She lives in a small town, so I’m sure the neighbors won’t think much of it when we turn her Christmas lights on, no matter when we do it.  We’re hoping that she gets out of the Intensive Care tomorrow and will have surgery next week.

On the way home I was thinking about the day and even though there were parts of it so nontraditional, it was still a really very nice Christmas. I know that some people say that once December 25th is over that Christmas is over, and I’m sure that I’ve even said that in the past too. But after this year I think I’m going to change my mind. I don’t think Christmas is over on December 25th anymore. I think Christmas is over when you want it to be over. And for me? I’m going to try to keep it going for as long as I can.

So with my new Christmas jammies on and the TV going in the living room, along a laptop on upstairs, and I can hear the Nintendo noises from the back room – I just smile to myself and think that all is good and head to bed. Merry Christmas!

Every year I get new Christmas pajamas

Merry Christmas!