Christmas 2008

On Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon in Reinbeck at Grandma Shirley & Papa Ken's house. We opened gifts and had an early dinner. We left for home early due to blowing snow issues. We made it home without incident, but our road was filling up in a hurry.

Hudson's new tricycle

Naomi's geography game


Katie got a Fur Real dog


Colton got a Wii game


Bryce's Wii game


Chase


Jackson and Alex waiting their turns


Jodi

Shannon


Grandma Shirley


Papa Ken trying out his stadium chair

We spent the evening at home playing some of the Xbox and Wii games the kids received as gifts.

On Christmas morning the kids woke up about 7:30. We make them all gather in the upstairs hallway, then go downstairs from youngest to oldest. First they get their stockings, then we sort out the gifts. I was a bit of a Scrooge this year, and we didn't even put up a tree or any decorations. By the time we got an afternoon of decent weather, it was a week and a half before Christmas, and it seemed like too much hassle to traipse through the snow and chop down a tree. We took the money we would have spent on a tree and bought canned goods for a family that our church sponsored.

We didn't have a ton of gifts to open this year because we are giving the kids a lump of money to plan a trip (or trips) with. They get pick when and where, as long as it fits within the allotted budget. Our goal was to avoid buying a bunch of gifts just for the sake of buying a bunch of gifts, and allow the kids to create some memories, instead.

Despite the small volume of gifts, we still had a fun morning. After the unwrapping was done, we played with some gifts, then I settled in for my nap, and Shannon got started on preparing our Christmas dinner. Ever since I can remember, it has been our tradition that Shannon cooks on Christmas. This year we had lasagna and garlic bread. It was delicious. We got the crystal goblets out and had some sparkling grape juice, and the kids thought they were very special.

**Shannon and I were just discussing when the cooking tradition began. Back when we lived in Nevada, when I was about 5 months pregnant with Colton, we were expecting a house full of guests, and I came down with the flu. I don't remember ever being so miserable. Shannon took over, and did such a great job that I've allowed him to continue the tradition.**

Christmas afternoon we went to Papa Joe's to spend some time with Shannon's family.

Papa Joe

Shannon's sister Carrie

Carrie's husband Jason

Cousin Will

Cousin Ben

The evening ended in a trip to the ER. That's a tradition we hope not to continue!

Katie's lyrics to "Jingle Bells"
Jingle Bells, Christmas Bells
Jingle all the way.
How much fun
It is to ride
In a one foot Christmas sleigh.
Hooray!



"...and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts." Proverbs 19:6b