Christmas Eve traditionally is a family filled seafood feast. Last year we hosted it at our house, most years it is at Grandma and Grandpa's house. However, this year Grandpa was in the hospital so the Kraupp family got take out from Red Robin and we had a picnic right there in Grandpa's room. When Red Robin realized why we were doing take out on Christmas Eve, they only charged us for half our meal.
Grandpa hasn't been much for pictures as he's going through this ordeal, but he did consent to let the grandkids gather around for a Christmas Eve picture. Gathering all our kiddos in Grandpa's room can be pretty stressful. They all did pretty well, and we were very thankful to have Christmas Eve dinner with Grandma and Grandpa.
Jacob cries everyday when it is time to go to school. Travis did some negotiating around Thanksgiving and promised Jake if he could brave school everyday without crying between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we would buy fireworks.
Jake did it! Christmas Eve we had a fireworks celebration. The missionaries joined us, as well as Ali and Kendall. Jake was in heaven. Santa and fireworks in the same night? Perfection. Good thing our neighbors already know we are crazy.
The kids got to bed a decent hour, and much to our surprise didn't have much trouble falling asleep. The trouble came at 3:30 a.m. when the Annie, Emma, and Jake were at our bed telling us Santa had come. We sent them back downstairs until 5:00, where they talked about what mean parents we are. I seem to recall one of them coming in every 15 minutes or so to complain or to report on the goods they were seeing from Santa in front of the Christmas tree.
At 5:00 we woke up the twins. Megan is always a joy to awaken, Justin not so much. He growled through the entire morning.
One of the reports every 15 minutes at my bedside in the middle of the night was from Jake, "MOM!! There is a DC14 out there!" Not long before Christmas Travis and I decided it was time to buy Jake his own Dyson. His knowledge of every Dyson made is incredible, and his ability to take them apart, explain how they work, and then put them back together is nothing short of impressive. In Jake's opinion the DC14 is the only way to go. According to the guru at the vacuum store, Jake is spot on. Look at the pictures from her out. Jake couldn't bare to be away from his vacuum. It even had breakfast with us.
Megan loves the Barbies and Squinkies she requested from Santa. When she talks about them she always jumps.
Justin is more of a Christmas afternoon guy...Christmas morning not so much.
The plan for Christmas dinner was to take all the food in and cook it at my parents. My mom was going to sneak home and eat and then Travis and I would take the kids in shifts to visit Grandpa. When we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's house, my hands were full so I asked the kids to open the door. It was locked so they started ringing the bell. I told them no one was home...just as Grandma opened the door. We walked in I asked her what she was doing home, and then we heard the most wonderful "HO HO HO" coming from Grandpa who was on the COUCH!!! He was home for Christmas! Grandpa still has a long way to go before we will call him healthy, but we are so grateful to have been able to spend Christmas with him at HOME. Though his illness has been inexplicably difficult, it has helped us to not get lost in the greed that can become Christmas and instead be thankful to a loving Heavenly Father who watches over us, blesses our lives with miracles, and gave us the best gift of all--His Son.
We loved being at Grandma and Grandpa's on Christmas day. We are all pretty crazy about the newest Howell, Avery Jo.
No comments:
Post a Comment