We’ve enjoyed our time with Aunt Jen this week, and we were able to go on a special adventure with her this past week. Jen arrived at our house on Sunday evening. Our children were very excited to have Aunt Jen with them this week. We spent Monday playing games together, doing some grocery shopping, wrapping gifts, and getting ready for Christmas. Roger had to work on Monday and Tuesday, so that was a bit of a bummer, but we just made the most of our evening time together.
Tuesday was Christmas Eve, and the kids were excited! Hannah and josh came down for part of the day, and we went bowling together. I had been giving a gift certificate for the bowling place, and it was a great time to use it. We surely miss Roger when he’s not able to join us for fun events, but we were thankful to enjoy time with Hannah, Josh and Jen. The bowling place has candlepin bowling which uses a smaller ball and smaller pins than regular bowling. After bowling, we came home to cook up food for our Christmas Eve dinner. Roger was able to be home around four pm, so we were able to enjoy dinner together before the Christmas Eve service. I always look forward to the Christmas Eve service as it sets the tone for the Christmas gatherings happening in the evening and on Christmas Day. I had thought that Wyatt and Garett were going to do their piano pieces for the Christmas Eve service, but there was some confusion so that wasn’t the plan. It felt a little scrambled at first, but it was all brought together by the grace of God. The children’s choir sang, and then the older kids played on the xylophone chimes. Each child has a chime and a stick to hit the chime with. All the children got lined up, and I was about to count them off to start, when I noticed that Wyatt was quietly laughing. Travis had managed to get his xylophone stick stuck in his pants! He had pants that tie on, and he had managed to get the xylophone stick stuck in one of the loops! He was all flustered, and he couldn’t figure out how to get it unstuck. His brothers were having a hard time holding their laughter in, and my friend Allison and I were also trying to hold in our laughter! Oh the memory! Travis managed to get the xylophone stick unstuck, and the rest of the song went off without a hitch! There was a good turnout of people for the service, and there is something beautiful and special about the Christmas Eve service. I am so thankful that it’s not all about the baby who came, but about the Savior Who came to redeem the world! What a gift!
We opened up our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve, as we were headed to Hannah’s on Christmas Day. Emma was so excited about opening gifts, and she announced loudly after the church service that she had taken a nap during church so that she wouldn’t be grouchy opening presents! The kids had gotten gifts for each other at the Christmas shops they had gone to, and I always love seeing what they’ve picked out! Emma opened up a soft blanket from Wyatt, to which Garett replied, “I’m glad you like it, there’s plenty more where that came from!” He had picked out the exact same blanket for Emma! Emma didn’t mind having two blankets! The funniest present was the gift that Emma picked out for Chandler. She knows that Chandler enjoys reading, so she picked him out some books at the Christmas shop. She was so excited for Chandler to open them, and Chandler’s expression was quite hilarious! Emma had gifted him with three inspirational Christian romance novels!! Chandler did very well at saying thank you, but his expression was quite humorous! Emma can’t quite read, so she just picked out books that she liked the covers to!
We spent Christmas Day with Hannah and Josh enjoying more delicious food, fun games, and fellowship together. The kids were a bit tired as it had been a late night the night before and they were all up early to play with their Christmas gifts. We came home in the late afternoon, and we all went ice skating for a bit! All the kids are better skaters than I am, but my excuse is that I have to wear skates that don’t fit properly! Chandler currently wears my skates, but some day I might get my skates back!It was fun to get on the ice with the kids, but wow....we were all happy to go to bed early!
Jen’s Christmas gift to the kids was an adventure! She had purchased tickets to a trampoline park as well as an overnight stay at a hotel with a pool! The kids were thrilled! Roger had to work on Thursday and Friday, but Jen and I headed down to Portland on Thursday morning with all the kids. I thought the trampoline park would be very busy the day after Christmas, but it actually wasn’t too bad at all! We were there right when they opened at ten, and the kids jumped and played until about two pm. Then we headed to Sam’s Club to feed them a snack before heading to the hotel for swimming! The hotel we stayed at had an outdoor heated pool, and I even got in the pool...so it was warm! The kids swam for a few hours, before getting out to have supper. The kids were excited to have dinner at Olive Garden since that’s where we had gift cards to eat. The last time the kids ate at Olive Garden was with Jen last Christmas, so they were excited to have dinner there again. And after they ate, they were tired! Emma and Travis about fell asleep at the dinner table, and they were happy to climb into bed at the hotel. Chandler told me that he was having a lot of fun on this adventure, but he sure did miss Dad. I’m glad that the kids have the opportunity to enjoy these adventures also, but I surely miss Roger when he’s not along too!
We headed home on Friday morning after another swim! After thirty six plus hours of activities, it was a quiet ride home! The boys were happy to get home and check on their ice skating rink. They shoveled it off to get ready to resurface it, so that they can use it some more. On Friday evening we joined Roger at work to have pizza with his boss and wife. The kids had gifts that they had picked out for Kevin and Terri, and Emma was happy to help them both open their gifts. I’m so thankful for Kevin and Terri and their love for our kiddos. They told the kids that their Christmas gift was not wrappable. They have gifted our children with an evening of snow tubing, dinner, and an overnight at a hotel for sometime in January or February! Our kids are so very excited about this adventure, and I am looking forward to it also. The months of January, February and March can get to be a bit long, so this will give us all something to look forward to!
We are wrapping up our last few days of Christmas break as we prepare to go back to school on Thursday. I am so not ready yet! It’s been a good break. I’ve spent a few days not feeling great, but it’s been a good time to slow down and treasure our time together. Roger has been busy, but that comes with the territory of being the second man in charge....you get to fill in any spots in the schedule that are short on people. I’m thankful for this Christmas season, and I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.
We love you all,
Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment