CHRISTMAS 2013

Well, Christmas has come and gone.  I had a wonderful Christmas.  Our family celebrates Christmas on Christmas day.  We gather together around 11:00, open presents, and have an unusual dinner.  We are all tired of turkey and ham by this time so we eat very untraditional things.  This year, we had fajitas, guacamole, queso and chips, rice, and refried beans.  Um-um Good!

Daughter-in-law (DIL) told Daughter to buy Girl-child and Squeaky a magazine subscription for Christmas.  So, Daughter did.  I was sitting next to Squeaky when she opened that gift.  She showed me the informational fly that Daughter had included in the box and said, "I just got a piece of paper." I proceeded to explain to her that she would be getting a magazine, addressed to her, each month in the mail and this magazine would have some fun activities as well as some stories that she and DIL could read together.  She dropped her head in her hands, started shaking her head and saying, "I don't like this.  It's just a piece of paper." The whole time this is going on, Girl-child is punching her in the leg and whispering to her to stop it and be gracious about her gift.  DIL realizes what is happening and she begins to explain that she was going to get a magazine that came in the mail, addressed to her with her name on it, and she WAS going to like it.  Fortunately, Daughter found this amusing and laughed about it.  I did think that out of all of this, Girl-child was sweet and showing such maturity to try to make her younger sister be gracious about her gift and not hurt Daughter's feelings. 

We spent the rest of the day just hanging out.  The grandkids have reached an age where they play really well together and there isn't a lot of fussing over toys anymore.  Boy-child and Girl-child will be 9 years old in April.  I'm not sure how much longer they will believe in the magic of Santa Claus which makes me sad.  I wish they could all stay little forever.  I know their parents don't wish that but I do.

It was nice to have such a relaxing Christmas.  When Son and DIL lived out of the country and was home for 2 weeks at Christmas, it was very hectic.  They had to try to schedule a lot of appointments, see our family, DIL's family, friends, and be a lot of places in a short period of time.  This year, we no longer had to do that and it was nice.

I'm looking forward to the New Year and to what 2014 will bring.  So, here's to a Happy New Year to each and everyone!

 

Curly, Squeaky, Girl-child, Boy-child, Popcorn