A Wonderful Christmas

Celebrating Christmas in California always reminds me of my favorite Christmas song, sung by the Osmond Family, "It Never Snows In L.A.". We don't have a white Christmas and we probably never will but we had a very rainy Christmas. I have learned that you don't need snow on the ground for it to feel like Christmas, either. The decorations in the house and the hustle and bustle at the mall helps bring in the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Tree 2010.

It was just the four of us this year. We usually have one set of our parents here but they have had such bad weather in Washington that my parents didn't want to chance it. We enjoyed our family time and doing our family traditions. As the boys are getting older, I am realizing that the traditions we do are important to them and I hope that they love and enjoy them enough to carry them on someday when they start their own families.

The boys made a haul as usual. In my mind when we're out shopping I always think that they need one more thing and then once it's wrapped and under the tree I realize that we may have gone a little overboard. Their lists are getting much simpler, Colby wanted only basketball stuff and Taylor wasn't sure what he wanted this year. Well, he wanted a gun but we told him he had to be 13.

Colby's wish came true. He got mostly basketball stuff. His main items that he wanted were a shooting shirt and an Evolution basketball. He was pretty happy with both things. Taylor ended up with a PS3 because his parents are boring and didn't know what else to do for him. He was thrilled with it and it has kept him busy during the Christmas break.

Colby with his shooting shirt on.

Santa Dog stopped by and brought the schnauzer a stuffed Snoopy that he was very excited about. He drags it around everywhere and it's not a whole lot smaller than he is but he manages. Taylor also bought him a toy chicken that squeeks and put it under the tree because Taylor wanted him to have his own special present just from Taylor. He loves the chicken, we don't love that it squeeks.

Hurley with his Snoopy dog.

We had our usual family Christmas Eve dinner, which turned out great! I made a new pork loin roast recipe and a new dessert recipe, apple dumplings. On Christmas morning we had our extended family, the Ponds, over and we had Christmas brunch. We made Abelskievers, quiche, sausage, bacon, fruit, and Wassail. We were stuffed by the end of it. It was fun to be together on Christmas morning and open presents with them.

Colby, Taylor, and the schnauzer on Christmas Eve.

The rest of the day, we were lazy. We watched new movies that the boys got, I snuggled on the couch in the new blanket from my sister, and we even took a little nap. Santa was very tired this year and has had a hard time recooperating!

The table centerpiece for Christmas.

It was a great day! I love seeing the boys' face over the surprises under the tree, I love the feeling of family closeness, I love the food and fun things to look at during the holidays, but mostly I'm grateful for the chance to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Christmas At Home

Earlier this year Taylor said to me, "Mom, I don't ever rememeber spending a Christmas at Grammie and Grandpa's house". I started to think about it and realized that the one and only time Taylor spent Christmas at my parents house was when he was one. Nine years ago! Well, that put a bee in my bonnet. I ever so gently started warming Ryan to the idea of going to Washington for Christmas.

It's not that Ryan doesn't like to go home for Christmas, it's the unpredictability of the weather and the roads this time of year. I talked fancy, made promises that I didn't intend to keep, and pretty much kept pestering Ryan to say yes to this brilliant idea. At one point, I even told him I was going with or without him. Ryan likes see the spunky side of me, so he would never say "yes" or "no" when I would ask him. Instead, he would just look at me and smile that mischievious smile and I would start into my little spunk.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

He finally gave in, his version may be different, but nevertheless, we were headed home to Washington for Christmas. It was wonderful, memory-filled, and time well spent with family. We were able to see Travis, Marion, and LaVoy, and even some of the neices and nephews. We ate until we were sick, seriously I think I gained five founds that will quickly be shed off come the new year.

We didn't have snow there like Colby and Taylor had hoped for but we had plenty of fun. There was some snow on the sides of the road and the fields but it was rock hard from sitting there so long and freezing.

We had Christmas Eve dinner with LaVoy, Alan, and Kristen. They made a wonderful prime rib roast! The three cousins were able to open their Christmas pajamas together and put them on. Christmas day was spent with my brother Travis, his wife Susan, and her son Danny. Travis deep fried a turkey that was awesome. I have never tried a deep fried turkey because I'm not that big of a turkey fan but turkey like that just may convert me. Then on Saturday, my sister Marion, had a brunch for all of us. The food was DE-LISH! She made scones with buttermilk syrup that I'm still having dreams about.

Sunday we headed home. The trip went about as fast as I wrote this. The time flew and I wanted it to stop for just a little while. We enjoyed my family so much! I don't realize how much I miss them and miss living in Washington until I go home and am surrounded by my family once again. I have wonderful Christmas memories from my childhood and it was great to go home and relive some of those again. Thank you to Mom and Dad, LaVoy and Alan, Marion and Mike, and Travis and Susan for the warm welcome home and the wonderful time we spent together! Thanks to Ryan, too, for giving in to something that I wanted so badly and for being a good sport. I love you all! You have each made me who I am today.

Colby and Taylor made a haul as usual. I think they both got what they were asking for and a few surprises, too. Gisela gave the boys each a hat, I'm sure they have a name but I don't know what, and Colby hasn't taken his off since he opened it. He wears it everywhere! When I went to tell them goodnight the other night, he had it on in bed watching a movie. It's like his version of Liunus' blanket. I hope they both hold great memories of this Christmas in their heart forever and can always remember what it's like to spend Christmas with extended family, especially grandparents. Colby and Taylor have four of the best grandparents two boys could have, and that in itself is a priceless gift and blessing.