Sometimes Christmas Day is a let down to me. I enjoy it but it's like the end to the best time of year and that makes me sad. Getting ready for Christmas is the best part to me. I prepare a lot. I stay busy thinking of others and that just feels good. I send out over 100 cards. That's a priority to me because it's the only time of year I contact some of my favorite people. I make gifts, I order gifts, I make a list of the recipients and what I have for them...the list has over 40 people on it. I think I have even cut back. I try to make it memorable and good for my kids and grands. This year was easier since our gift to our family is a family trip to Disneyland. However, I still felt like there needed to be something under the tree for them to open.
I had Natalie help me make Disney Shirts for the kids....from Braxton on down. They turned out cute. Then the kids each got a pair of pants and a shirt and their traditional box of cereal. Why cereal you might ask? With such a large family we could not afford for each of the kids to get much and so I started wrapping a box of cereal for each one of them. They don't have to share and they get their favorite. They still love their boxes of cereal.....the grands like it too!
Some friends bring us gifts and we put them under the tree for the kids to open. Each child gets to open a few more presents that way. And if they have been good Santa might leave something under the tree as well.
This year Santa left "just dance 4" for the wii in one of the Choo choo trains cars. I had to point it out and when I did Kimi's face lit up! She was hoping for that or a Cello.....(the Cello may comes years from now)
I love my kids and how understanding they are. If they are sad or feel cheated I usually don't hear too much about it. Sometimes I do and it makes me sad but we are blessed and they are reminded.
In each of their stockings they received a paper with Mickey Mouse announcing our Gift and all the info needed. I wanted it printed so everyone would know all the details and wouldn't have to ask me over and over.
We enjoyed Christmas music from Kimleighel which I never get tired of. I love hearing her play on the piano....she is good!
This year we didn't have set plans on what we were going to do after opening the gifts. No missionary to work around and that was nice. I love having everyone home again. We ended up getting ready around noon to visit our married kids and see what the grands got. Just before I really wanted a 5 minute nap....I was tired and I know that if I can just sneak in a little nap it makes a huge difference in my patience the rest of the day. Larry was getting a little nap in the piano room and I went and laid on the bed. (I like it better than the couch or floor) My big boys thought it would be funny to throw stuffed animals at me....and it was funny but I didn't get my nap. (I bet later that night they wish I would have got my nap....more on that coming)
It was fun seeing the excitement of each of my sweet little grands. Geeze I have such cute little ones. I love them all so much! We went to my mom's around 4:00 and to my pleasant surprise Susan and her family were there too. My mom and dad made some spareribs and chose the time to stop over. I'm glad we were all there at the same time. The house was full but I liked it. It doesn't happen often that we are all together and I cherish the times we are.
My mom and dad are very generous and make Christmas fun. Growing up it was more conservative like ours is but now it's pretty big. My mom works on Christmas all year. She gets the kids books and puzzles from the school when they place orders. The kids love it! This year she gave the older kids from Jared up money. This year was a good year to do that since they will need spending money in Disneyland. This year they gave us more $ than they ever have. Dad usually gives us $100 to get food storage with. He use to buy the food but decided to simplify and have us do it to eliminate so much carrying. When I opened their gift I couldn't help but cry. This year has been stressful in many ways and our finances was included in that stress. The gift was greatly appreciated and came to us at the perfect time. (you might be wondering why we chose Disneyland then if we couldn't afford it....I thought after going last year with just Larry and I it would be fun and that's when the plans were made. The kids are paying for their passes and lunches and anything extra...and we will take from our savings to pay for the rest)
I am thankful for my parents and Larry's parents and the love they show to us. They are great people....all of them.
I enjoyed visiting with my sis and her kids and grands. I just love family and miss those that aren't around. We always have a good time. (or at least I do)
We are packed like sardines in my mom and dad's house but I love it. The kitchen and front room are full with us all there at once but it works out as memories are made.
We even got to talk to Bennett when he called. I love my brothers too and can't wait for them to come for a visit again. I think it's going to be soon. WooHoo!!!
It was pretty much a perfect day. Relaxing and nice until right before bed......here comes the rest of the story. (not getting a nap) Justin and Kevin's families came down after visiting with my parents and we gave them their few gifts and were just visiting and enjoying each other. The mess was starting to get on my nerves....I was trying hard not to let it. Kimi was leaning on me and in my personal space and kissing me more than necessary and I was hot and starting to lose it. Kimi and Jared were messing around and I had Jared hand me a stocking before it got ripped. I guess when I asked him it was obvious I was tired and getting irritable because Natalie and Larry had a look on their faces that told me they could tell. I tried letting that snap be back to calmness but guess what? I didn't get a nap and it didn't work...I did okay until one of the kids left their paper with all the info on the floor and said it wasn't theirs. Without thinking at all I reacted with the words "my hell" flying out of my mouth while I picked up the paper and threw it away. Those that heard went quiet and only their eyes dared move. I felt terrible and thought about leaving and crying but chose to stand there in awkwardness with the others. That's how our Perfect Christmas Day ended............dang it!
It didn't end there for me. I forgot how caffeine affects me when consumed after noon...( I drank a Mt Dew at my mom's) I couldn't sleep and the guilt consumed me. I laid there listening to Larry sleep as tears rolled down my face and into my ears.
