Christmas 2010

Our Christmas festivities began quietly about two weeks ago. We visited our big downtown Christmas displays. The boys were both enthralled. Luke most enjoyed the models trains running around many of the displays. Boy 1 pointed to and talked almost nonstop about all the things he saw, including the live "Singing Santa" performing in the midst of it all (who, impressively, frightened no one! How many Santas can claim that?).

T and I were so pleased that trip went well. The truth is, everyone has been grumpy and just kind of off for a long time. Between the instability of T's work schedule (late shift one day, regular shift the next, wrong days off, etc.) and all of us being sick over and over again, we haven't felt quite right since early November. To top it off, everyone's slept badly many, many nights in a row, mostly because of the coughing and stuffy noses.

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around--and all the kids were having a tired, irritable day again, with Boy 2 showing signs of yet another cold--I figured it would be just one thing too much to try to make it to the Family Service at church, much as I wanted to go. Instead, I tried to keep everyone doing calm, quiet activities all day in hopes we'd all be "right" by the time T got home (normal schedule) for supper. But they had been pretty excited to see the few simple lights on our house the weekend before, so after supper we loaded up the van and drove around the neighborhood looking for lights. Well, it was a bust! Decorated houses were few and far between. Whenever we did find a yard stuffed with lights, nativities, and characters, and asked the boys what they saw, we were often met with stony silence or an unfocused stare. Time for bed!

Fortunately, every one of us slept well that night. That was really key. Despite all the unsettled weirdness that led to it, the kids had a good Christmas. (And Boy 2's threatened cold had backed off to no more than a runny nose--whew!) We had a big breakfast together, opened presents slowly throughout the day, then had a big supper, too. Both boys seemed to be approaching "overload" several times, but they'd opened favorite presents early (yes, we congratulated ourselves on good planning there!), and they got themselves centered again with those favorites over and over before returning to the group. We even let them keep playing right through their nap time, which normally would be disastrous. Surprisingly, though they fought actually getting into their room, they both fell asleep quickly that night and had a very sound sleep, even letting US sleep in to nearly 9am. Now that was a great Christmas present!

Of course, Girlie understood and cared about little of it all except that the people she likes best were all there, and they were all smiling at her. She did get a good grip on a couple of her presents, including some pieces from a shape sorter toy and a stuffed reindeer whose nose is just the right size for chewing on. And she did her part by looking adorable in all the pictures.

We hope all of you had a joyful, healthy, normal Christmas, too!