So, every Christmas Eve, we pack up the family and make the loooooong trek to my parents’ house a mile and a half away to spend the night.  (Okay, so it isn’t a loooong way.  It just sounded better that way.) 

We have done this every year since Zan and I got married *almost* 17 years ago.  It all started because when I married and left the house, my little sister was just 14 years old, and the thought of her waking up to open gifts alone with my parents on Christmas morning was unbearable.  So, we said, until we had children of our own, we would come.  Then we had Big Girl, but by then a tradition was established, and I couldn’t bear the thought of not waking up at my parents’ house on Christmas morning.  So the tradition continues.  My sister’s daughter and my three kids have never woken up at their own homes on Christmas morning, and although we have ventured into the discussion of whether or not it might be time to make the break (it is quite a feat for Zan and I to pull off Christmas morning with three kids…much, much more hauling) the looks of horror on our girls’ faces when it’s even mentioned, re-establishes our commitment to the tradition.

This year we are all on pins and needles, wondering if our tradition might be put on hold.  You see, my sister is due any minute to go into labor with her second daughter. 🙂  The official due date is January 6th, but our Darling Angel Doctor (my hero from Mister’s gestational days) said two to three weeks tops—-three weeks ago.  I spoke to her yesterday and she laughed saying she felt like a ticking time bomb.  The family is at Code Red, waiting for the phone call that will set us all into baby prep motion.  We are prepared for any and all eventualities, and yet my kids are uneasy entering into Christmas thinking their traditions may be threatened.  They have made me promise that we will be sleeping at Memiere and Papa’s even if the baby is on the way, or comes early.  And my sister has been asking that God grant her the special favor of holding off labor until after the gifts are unwrapped Christmas morning.  🙂 

We shall see!  And in the meantime, we all look forward to meeting the most important gift of all coming our way this holiday season….no matter when she chooses to arrive.

Addendum:  Baby Niece has not yet arrived, and our holiday was splendid and traditional!  A great time was had by all, and we now look forward to a week of family time and Second Christmas with Zan’s family. 

Happy Thanksgiving my Friends!

I hope you all enjoyed a fulfilling holiday, both in body and soul.

Our family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with Zan’s family, and have had a great extended visit with his sister’s family who have been here since Wednesday.  (They will be leaving today.)  The only bummer of the week has been a “who knows what?” infection that took my voice and requires an antibiotic and Robitussin with Codeine to control the cough at night.  Fortunately (and quite miraculously) I feel much better than I sound and it hasn’t slowed me down *too* much.  I haven’t had a voice since it left after Thanksgiving dinner.  Extremely frustrating, especially for someone like me who loves to talk!  LOL 

Some highlights of the week:

• Zan took Little Girl to NYC for a Daddy/Daughter American Girl Place Day on Tuesday.  Not only did they “lunch” and shop at the American Girl store, but they also went to Rockefeller Center and Zan’s office, and ended the day at Carlos’ Bakery, bringing home boxes galore of goodies, and a photo of Little Girl with Buddy himself!  Talk about making memories!
• Sister-in-Law and I took the teenage daughters and nieces to see New Moon on Friday night….the squeals of delight coming out of the 17 year old were hilarious!!  On a personal note, I looked down the full row of girls at one point and was so overwhelmed by the fact that our babies are all so beautiful and grown-up, and such a pleasure to be with.  It seems like yesterday that they were fighting over dolls, in tears over one thing or another, cranky and overtired during the holidays, and that we played referee more than we enjoyed visiting.  And to see them all, leaning shoulder to shoulder, whispering and giggling together, enjoying each other, was good for the soul.
• Zan got “his” basement cleaned out! I call it “his” because he actually likes it down there!  I HATE it down there and if it weren’t for the fact that my washer and dryer live in that crypt, I would never see it.  (The house is 112 years old, so imagine how creepy it is….okay, maybe I exaggerate a little…it is well-lit, and dry, and as clean as a 112 year old basement can be…but still…..ick.)  So, tons of items for donations were trucked to Salvation Army over the past couple of weeks, and while we had the manpower this week, truckloads of metals, cardboard, and garbage were hauled to the recycling/waste center, and storage shelves were moved around.  It is a huge weight off Zan’s already overburdened shoulders.
• Food galore—Thanksgiving dinner with all the “fixins,” leftovers, a spaghetti and meatball dinner, a ham and homebaked mac and cheese dinner…..all comfort foods all the time!
• And the best for last—-numerous cups of tea and coffee enjoyed in pajamas while catching up on all the news….

I don’t even want to think about the next holiday yet.  I just want to savor this one a bit longer.