Sleepover

Aunt Heidi's annual Christmas sleepover was planned by Aubrey this year and was to be hosted at my house a few days before Christmas. And then people started testing positive for COVID-19. Sigh. So we made the decision to postpone the sleepover. I was worried we would all spread COVID-19 at the sleepover and then get everyone sick for Christmas. That would have been awful!

So a few days after Christmas when everyone was testing negative, and just two days before everyone needed to start heading back to their various states from here to the East Coast, everyone descended on my house and created a glorious mess.

We painted, made decorations, decorated cookies, and ate Chex mix.

And there were cousins. What more could a person ask for?

We did offer everyone a bed or air mattress, but not everyone wanted to partake. This little dude decided under Sam's bed was the place to be. 

They woke up in the morning to a quick breakfast and then everyone headed out to go sledding. I took a few minutes to enjoy the quiet, albeit paint covered, house.

The Big Event!

Christmas morning came and I insisted on a photo before we began the gluttony. I do not know why Appa keeps getting forced into photos. She does not know either. 

Look at how cute they were eleven years ago! My heart hurts and is also proud. It's very confusing.

The kids spoiled each other. Libby bought each sibling a pair of Converse, Ethan bought everyone exactly what they asked for, Grace and Sam spent all their money on gifts for everyone. The presents Michael and I bought for the kids were eclipsed by what the kids bought for each other. I got some lovely gifts as well, but, truly, I was so thankful to see how caring and thoughtful my children can be. Sometimes it is easy to forget.

Christmas Prep

We started the Christmas season with Winter Garden Aglow. My work gave us free tickets, so Michael and I gathered all the children that were available that evening and headed into the cold. Cocoa, cookies, popcorn, my family, and my coworkers. It turned out to be a wonderful evening. 

Sam couldn't take a single picture without making a weird face, but I still love him. 

We saw the lights, Ethan scared some teenage girls, we took some pictures, and just enjoyed our evening. Back to the scaring of girls. There was a metal platform the males of my family discovered made a loud ringing sound when jumped on. While some teenage girls were walking on the path under the platform, Ethan chose that moment to jump on the platform. Much fright and apologies followed. He's twenty (19 here, technically), and I still can't take him anywhere. 

A couple of days later, Sam had his vocal recital. He sang "Pictures" by Backseat Lovers. He did amazing. All the notes he had been struggling for months, he nailed. I was so proud. He did get discouraged due to forgetting some lyrics halfway through, but his singing was on point. 

The next night was his choir concert. Just four boys in the whole choir, and Sam was doing a great job carrying the bass section. He has worked so hard to improve his singing, and it is paying off. 

We couldn't let the season pass without gingerbread houses. Grace and Sam did join us, but being deep into teenager hood, they refused to be in any pictures.

 

Thank goodness I have great nephews who will still humor me.

A week before Christmas, we took everyone to see Santa at the Train Depot. The Grinch made a surprise appearance. Everyone was deeply amused.

The littlest dude just wanted to watch the model train, so Sam and his friend kept him company. 

And then four days before Christmas, our joy was finally complete: Libby landed in the Boise airport. It was a grueling day of travel for her, but we were all so happy to see that face!

Ethan even popped over to say hello that evening. I was so excited to have all my kids together that I insisted the kids gather for a picture. The results were amazing. 

And now we were ready for the grand celebration.

Deck the Hall

I knew this year was going to feel different from other years. Ethan has set up his own home and Libby is across the country. I know everyone will be home for Christmas, so I was looking forward to that as the four of us at home started pulling out the decorations. As we pulled out the many ornaments made by Heidi, my heart was aching. I realized my family would never be all together again. Heidi loved Christmas with fervor and would spend July forward working on Christmas cards and crafts. I was trying to put on a brave face but I just felt lonely and empty. My older kids were not home, my younger kids are growing up, and I have family members I will never spend another Christmas with. Holidays can be so hard.

As I was decorating with our many nostalgic ornaments, I came across some weird pipe cleaner creation. I turned it over, expecting to throw it in the trash, and then saw this stellar creation. 

I have no idea why Libby made this or when, but I got a jump scare. Then I started laughing. This may be my favorite ornament this year. I'm still sad and missing my family. But I also am so thankful for the people I still have in my life, and their uniqueness. 

After we got all the ornaments on the tree it was time for the tree crowning. Grace wanted to use the star this year, which was not a bad call. I've had the angel we usually put on the tree for 25 years. She was weird-looking to begin with, and the years have done her no favors. So this year we are opting for a star.

We cannot put a star on the tree without help in this house. Our six-foot tree is just such a towering monster...

One day Michael's back isn't going to survive, but this year it did. The tradition continues!

Thanksgiving in Delaware

Libby was not able to afford a flight home for Thanksgiving. That is the sad news.

Her dear high school friend Kylie could not afford to fly home either. Double sad news.

They are actually only four hours apart on the East Coast. Libby now has her car. That is the happy news.

The girls made travel arrangements. Kylie got a ride halfway and Libby fought traffic and toll roads to meet her. Once they found each other, they headed back to Lewes, where they spent the next week together. Not as good as coming home, but they still had a lot of fun. 

They dressed up and went to Chef Dom's (the chef for the Children's Beach House) home for Thanksgiving dinner. 

They made homemade maple bars and challah bread to contribute to the meal. Apparently, the East Coast doesn't believe in maple bars and Kylie was dying a slow death from maple bar deprivation. Chef Dom slowly ate a donut, pausing between bites. He examined the treat and declared them quite delicious. Libby was over the moon. The hosts also requested the leftover challah be left with them. The girls were bursting with pride.

The girls also went for lots of beach walks and found a live horseshoe crab. He was flailing on his back and Libby screwed up enough courage to flip him over. I'm sure he was grateful.

While the girls were together, they of course needed to get more holes put in their bodies. See how brave Libby was?

They even braved more traffic and headed into D.C. Libby had to gloat to me about the Monets she saw. What a jerk. 

I think they had a great time, but I know Libby is looking forward to coming home for Christmas. We are looking forward to having her home. Kylie is also coming back to Boise for Christmas and I'm hoping to see her cute face in person.