Off The Top: Christmas

Nanette came home for Christmas for three days and was helpful. The Joseph & Kim, Lincoln & Amanda came Christmas morning. We had a big pancake and bacon breakfast, then opened gifts. We moved Noel into the front room and turned the recliner around. His back was in pain but he endured for an hour or so.

My what big feet, could you get a little closer.

Thank you

Joseph and Kim filled and brought the socks this year. Noel said, “For the first time in 30 years I won’t know what’s in the socks.” They did a great job following some of our traditional stocking stuff plus fancy truffles chocolates. I would say the theme was band aides this year.

Joseph & Kim opening socks

Nanette, Lincoln & Amanda opening their socks.

The biggest gift beside the tree was a new sink in cabinet which Joseph and Kim gave to Noel and I. The biggest surprise was the Cool Pix camera which we gave to Nanette. She had commented before Christmas that we always ask for a wish list but never give what’s on the list. “Hey the reason I do that is so you will be surprised.”

But I disagreed with her. “There’s been some years you get things on the list. She was surprised by getting a non list item that she liked. I told her, “This is your Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, and Congratulations on your Graduation gift.”

I suppose we could say the funnest or the most work to find gift was a coat or hat rack for Joseph and Kim. I wrote notes for them to find it with a treasure hunt. At Thanksgiving I had to move it to the back storage room so they wouldn’t see it. I reasoned, why should I lift it again, let them carry it back into the house. So off they went in search, they returned after the second clue. “We found the master list on your computer.”

“ Hey, Give me that list; you weren’t supposed to find that.” Well, they still didn’t know what the treasure was. Being good sports, they followed the clues to the end.

Joseph & Kim with their coat rack/hat stand

Use of gift cards, cut down on wrapped presents under the tree this year. An easy gift which is always appreciated. I told Noel, if we give gift cards there won’t be any presents under the tree. What a ludicrous comment from one who doesn’t like to wrap gifts. (Home Depot for Lincoln, theater choices for Nanette and restaurant choice for Noel and I from David)

Noel got the Glen Beck book which he wanted from aunt Lynda. I gave him “Band of Brothers” a world War II mini-series about Easy Company paratroopers. We watched this during the Christmas break.

I had a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit, I did no extras, such as baking and decorations were to a minimum, a tree and nativity.

But the one thing that nagged at me and hung over my head was the completion of the traditional Christmas Letter. I usually love to do this but had a hard time settling into getting the job done. On Christmas Eve, when things were quiet as a mouse, I finally finished and printed a copy. All the kids read it the next day and edited it. This became my after Christmas project which I found a perfect time to do. No pressure, I could take time and add a note or two. Maybe I”ll do that again next year.

We had a quiet New Years and watched movies.

David and kids called New Years Day for a Web Cam session. So fun to see the grandchildren.

Nanette‘s flight to New York was cancelled because of snow storms but rescheduled for Tuesday after Christmas. She still had a week in the big Apple and thoroughly enjoyed it.

More Photos

Lincoln in his Oct - Feb 28 Beard. He says he grows this each year and shaves it on his birthday.