Christmas Catch-up
Usually, I would be posting about the highlights of the previous year right now. But I'm so far behind, I need to journal my Christmas first.
We went back to Ohio for actual Christmas because George had had an epiphany. He was working in the basement one day, and came upstairs and says, out of the blue, "We need to be back in Ohio for Christmas." (We had originally planned on heading north on Dec. 26.) "Oh?" I said. "Any particular reason?" He didn't really have one, other than he felt we needed to. So we did.
Dec. 24 - Pretty laid-back. We spent part of the afternoon looking at old slides on the computer. What fun! A much simpler time.
Christmas Eve candlelight service (early, like 4:15). Then dinner at Niece B's and Hubby's house. Gift exchange from those who brought gifts. I got a wonderful plush ice-lavendar-colored robe from MiL. Geo got a cardigan sweater. And MiL gave us fundage toward the adoption.
Nephew A joined us when he got off work, so he was still in his scrubs. Nephew B has been doing very well in wrestling.
Geo and his mom when to pick up SiL B and Niece T from the airport.
Dec. 25, Christmas Day - We didn't got to church, but instead had a relaxing morning before getting ready to go to Cousin J's for lunch. Geo and I exchanged presents in front of the tree. He gave me a lovely Thomas Kinkade card. ( The Christmas Cottage has become one of our favorite Christmas movies, and was actually the first DVD we pulled out this year.) It's a pop-out card and has a soft light that glows through the window of "Deer Creek Cottage."
I gave him a pair of slippers that he pointed out to me on the Sears website, and a cardigan sweater. He gave me a box of Ferrero Rocher dark chocolate and almonds, and the new BluRay release of Meet Me in St. Louis.
Lunch at J's was a simple affair. I provided a peppermint ice cream torte for dessert. Cousin Sammie was there, and it's always nice to see her. Aunt J1 gave Cousin J's husband a Japanese rifle Uncle H. brought back from WWII. Husband J was somewhat overwhelmed.
We played a game Geo found called Logo. It's like Trivial Pursuit, except simpler and based on product logos, slogans, jingles, etc. It's really rather fun.
Stopped of at SiL L's place briefly on the way home.
Back at home, we watched White Christmas that evening.
Dec. 26 - Geo went to Dayton, Mother, Daddy, and I went out for my favorite Chinese food and stopped at Wal-Mart, where I got a couple of casual holiday/winter design shirts.
That evening, we got together for dinner with SiL B and MiL for dinner.
Dec. 27 - Today it was over to Li'l Bro's house for lunch and gift exchange. "Christmas dinner" was delicious, and what a delight that Sammie was able to join us there as well. It was a full table, with us, Mother and Daddy, Aunt J1, Cousin J, Bro and SiL (of course), and their friend M.
Afterwards, a family photo and gift exchange. Everyone has been very generous helping us build our adoption fund.
After the fam left, we just hung out, read, chatted, and when SiL went to bed, George, Li'l Bro, and I went down to his home theater and watched Scream, which George and I had never seen.
We stayed the night, and left to head south after a breakfast of waffles (yum!).
Progress report on Daddy: He's doing better. He was using a cane this time around. When we were back in October, he was using a walker, and when we were back in September, he was in the hospital. So he's making progress. Slowly, but it's still progress. Being on his oxygen helps clear his thinking, but we all think better when we have sufficient oxygen for our brains.
Got home on Wednesday and have been enjoying the lack of structured schedule the past couple of days.
Something I learned yesterday: If I can do amigurumi, I can do baby booties. They're very cute, and actually remind me of Li'l Bro's christening cake from lo those many years ago.
We went back to Ohio for actual Christmas because George had had an epiphany. He was working in the basement one day, and came upstairs and says, out of the blue, "We need to be back in Ohio for Christmas." (We had originally planned on heading north on Dec. 26.) "Oh?" I said. "Any particular reason?" He didn't really have one, other than he felt we needed to. So we did.
Dec. 24 - Pretty laid-back. We spent part of the afternoon looking at old slides on the computer. What fun! A much simpler time.
Christmas Eve candlelight service (early, like 4:15). Then dinner at Niece B's and Hubby's house. Gift exchange from those who brought gifts. I got a wonderful plush ice-lavendar-colored robe from MiL. Geo got a cardigan sweater. And MiL gave us fundage toward the adoption.
Nephew A joined us when he got off work, so he was still in his scrubs. Nephew B has been doing very well in wrestling.
Geo and his mom when to pick up SiL B and Niece T from the airport.
Dec. 25, Christmas Day - We didn't got to church, but instead had a relaxing morning before getting ready to go to Cousin J's for lunch. Geo and I exchanged presents in front of the tree. He gave me a lovely Thomas Kinkade card. ( The Christmas Cottage has become one of our favorite Christmas movies, and was actually the first DVD we pulled out this year.) It's a pop-out card and has a soft light that glows through the window of "Deer Creek Cottage."
I gave him a pair of slippers that he pointed out to me on the Sears website, and a cardigan sweater. He gave me a box of Ferrero Rocher dark chocolate and almonds, and the new BluRay release of Meet Me in St. Louis.
Lunch at J's was a simple affair. I provided a peppermint ice cream torte for dessert. Cousin Sammie was there, and it's always nice to see her. Aunt J1 gave Cousin J's husband a Japanese rifle Uncle H. brought back from WWII. Husband J was somewhat overwhelmed.
We played a game Geo found called Logo. It's like Trivial Pursuit, except simpler and based on product logos, slogans, jingles, etc. It's really rather fun.
Stopped of at SiL L's place briefly on the way home.
Back at home, we watched White Christmas that evening.
Dec. 26 - Geo went to Dayton, Mother, Daddy, and I went out for my favorite Chinese food and stopped at Wal-Mart, where I got a couple of casual holiday/winter design shirts.
That evening, we got together for dinner with SiL B and MiL for dinner.
Dec. 27 - Today it was over to Li'l Bro's house for lunch and gift exchange. "Christmas dinner" was delicious, and what a delight that Sammie was able to join us there as well. It was a full table, with us, Mother and Daddy, Aunt J1, Cousin J, Bro and SiL (of course), and their friend M.
Afterwards, a family photo and gift exchange. Everyone has been very generous helping us build our adoption fund.
After the fam left, we just hung out, read, chatted, and when SiL went to bed, George, Li'l Bro, and I went down to his home theater and watched Scream, which George and I had never seen.
We stayed the night, and left to head south after a breakfast of waffles (yum!).
Progress report on Daddy: He's doing better. He was using a cane this time around. When we were back in October, he was using a walker, and when we were back in September, he was in the hospital. So he's making progress. Slowly, but it's still progress. Being on his oxygen helps clear his thinking, but we all think better when we have sufficient oxygen for our brains.
Got home on Wednesday and have been enjoying the lack of structured schedule the past couple of days.
Something I learned yesterday: If I can do amigurumi, I can do baby booties. They're very cute, and actually remind me of Li'l Bro's christening cake from lo those many years ago.