Keane and I took a vacation day the Monday before Christmas (which fell on Thursday). Our original intent was to do a lot of bow hunting. However, it was supposed to rain all day! We slept in (so lovely) and lounged around the house until 11:00 when we decided to head to the stands until more rain came in.
It was so nice to be in the woods. It's so pretty and peaceful. We didn't see anything, and then it started to drizzle. Keane, my optimist hunter, said he thought it would break-up (which it did), but when I saw an entire storm heading our way on my weather app, I told him I wanted to get down. When we were heading to the four wheeler, we spotted some turkeys. Keane wanted to wait to see if he could get a shot on them, but they wandered off before he was able to.
Like I said, the rain did stop, about the time we got to the four wheeler, but I was satisfied with the couple hours we attempted to hunt. We spent the rest of the evening planning our basement (our winter/spring project to make room for the baby), wrapping presents, eating cookies our neighbors delivered, and spending quality time together. It was perfect.
On Tuesday, I finished our shopping while Keane and a couple friends got together for their first annual "Friends Christmas."
Christmas Eve, we spent with the kids. As evening came, we got together and talked about Christmas Jars, I read them the real Christmas Story, and we all enjoyed watching The Christmas Story (which to the kids' surprise had nothing to do with the real Christmas Story). Keane and I had to set out cookies and milk (and the photo Kylie drew for Santa) because they went to bed without setting them out.
We decided to let the kids open their big gifts on Christmas Eve so that they had a chance to play with them before they went to their mom's on Christmas morning. Kaden got an Xbox 360 (special edition blue one) with two games, and Kylie got a Nabi (with headphones to go with it). Keane and I each opened our "big" gifts, too. Keane got a North Face coat and I got a tablet of my own.
Christmas morning we tried to let the kids sleep in a little before waking them, but little did we know they had been awake waiting on us to wake up! They were so excited for all of their gifts, which made our Christmas morning lovely. Some of Kylie's gifts were an 18" doll, camo hunting boots, a robe, Mystery cards, and sweatpants; some of Kaden's gifts were Transformer movie set, Walking with Dinosaurs DVD, painting canvases, and a Backyard Ballistics book; and both of them got insulated socks, calendars, Legos, blankets, and Monopoly. Keane also got a hunting knife from Kaden, PJ pants from Kylie, and Hell on Wheels Season 1 (which Kylie accidently opened with much confusion!). I got a stadium seat from Kaden, a vest coat from Kylie, and a venison recipe book from Keane!
On Christmas evening, Keane and I gathered with Keane's family for fried oysters, gifts, and visiting. I made the oyster dressing this year -- something that I don't even eat. After Christmas, we got together with Keane's parents and exchanged gifts. They gave the kids a 3D Eiffel Tower puzzle and bouncy ball kit (for Kaden) and Apples to Apples and doll accessories (for Kylie). They gave me a beautiful Willow Tree Angel of the Garden (to help my garden grow)! Keane received a beautiful glass vase from his grandparents' cellar. Donn bought Karen a beautiful ring to wear as a replacement for her wedding ring that has worn out, and Karen bought Donn a dehumidifier for his gun safe. We gave them lots of oatmeal butterscotch cookies, Karen a picture frame with our wedding photos, and Donn got a Mighty Mug which is pretty nifty. They also gave us an "Our Christmas 2014" ornament with a deer image in the back to represent our first Christmas married!
My sister and nephew came home over the weekend when we celebrated Christmas with my family on Saturday morning. I received a record player from my parents (which I had really wanted), a Bath & Body Works Gift Card, dress socks, a Ruler Growth Chart made by my mother, as well as a camo table runner and napkins made also by my mother! My sister got me a new purse, and got some baby swaddlers for the new babe! The kids got clothes, room décor, and other goodies, and Keane got insulated socks, a lantern, and a gift card (from my parents), and an MU shirt (from Kimberly). My mom got red kitchen canisters, a photo frame with our wedding photos, a snowman bird feeder, and a mini pie/cake baker. My dad got a shelf for his Little Giant Ladder, his must-haves (chocolate covered cherries), and some random tools.
We enjoyed each other's company, and we even watched Maze Runner, a movie Kollin got for Christmas! McCoy was all about opening the presents this year. And when it was too hard for him to wait for his turn to open his next present, he asked to help whoever was opening their present. I'm pretty sure he had a hand in every single unwrapping of gifts this year. Next year he can open Baby's gifts!
Back to the record player -- my dad pulled out some old records of his, mom's, and my aunt Jan's possibly, and we were all enthralled by the way it worked and the way it sounded. We all huddled together in a corner in my parents' kitchen and played record after record. I learned how not to scratch the records, and all the necessary knowledge needed. Some of my favorite moments were when I peeked in the kitchen later and saw my mom and sister having a dance party, or when my mom played her and dad's "song" and told us that it was a little "risky" back in their day, or when my very high-tech brother shared all of our amazement and excitement and said, "This is way cooler than the electronics we have now!"
(pet sweaters made by my momma!)
Next year we will have a baby to add to the mix, and presents for three children under the tree. I cannot wait! As ordinarily out-of-character this is for me, the very day after Christmas, I set out to clean. And in cleaning my home, I took down our Christmas tree, and every Christmas decoration in sight. I wanted needed it all cleaned up. I usually want my tree and Christmas-y-ness to last at least until after New Year's, but this year was different. And I feel so much better! The days surrounding Christmas were spent in complete vacation mode. I didn't care what day it was, what time of day it was, or what exactly I looked like most of the time. That is part of Christmas, too, isn't it?
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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