Our Christmas

What an incredible Christmas we had. It wasn't perfect, by any means, but it was ours--all ours. It struck me several times over the holidays that we were finally experiencing a grown-up, family holiday. The first time I felt it was Saturday night, at our friends' house for a potluck dinner. There we were, December 23, at a home, not even a mile from our own, surrounded by our dear adult friends and my children surrounded by their dear childhood friends. We were living the photos of my grandparents from the 1950's--at their friends' houses, dressed in their crinoline and wingtips, sipping martinis. There was no where else I'd have rather been.

It struck me again, Christmas Eve, at our neighborhood church service, flanked by my little family and my kids' friends; again, our dear friends in the pews surrounding us. To look around the sanctuary and see familiar, smiling faces from our everyday lives; us all singing in unison to traditional Christmas hymns. Then later, in my own home, surrounded by family as we celebrated the season. Like I said, it was far from perfect. Jack vomited 3 times on Christmas Eve and declared at one point, that he'd rather just go to bed than open gifts. Even though they both received exactly (almost) what they asked Santa for for Christmas, both kids seemed a little "meh" about most of what they received and glommed onto random gifts and stocking stuffers instead.

Then, due to an unrelated (to Jack's) stomach bug, our friends were unable to host our planned Christmas evening get together, so I offered up our house very last-minute. All was well until, about 30 minutes into an all-encompassing, full-on kitchen explosion of pierogie-making and multiple crockpots warming everything from gumbo to queso, a freakish wind storm blew out power to most of our area. This, right as the sun was going down and my house full of kiddos was getting antsy. But the moments that really stood out were memory-makers indeed--big and small.

Christmas light viewing during our Christmas Express activity (which was a HUGE hit with the kids--and the adults. This requires a blog post of it's own because it was that fun and also, my kids' reaction to it was unexpected and fabulous!)

On our way to the Nutcracker--Anna's special outing for the holiday season

At the Houston Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker

Christmas Eve. Jack was about 2 vomits into the evening at this point. The third, fateful vomit did-in the new jammie shirt that he's wearing in this picture. Luckily, his stomach ailments were over before bedtime and we're chalking it up to a steady diet of cookies and crackers all day long, coupled with Christmas excitement.

Christmas morning. Santa's contribution to the loot.

Our house, during the great Christmas Evening Wind Storm/Power Outage; lights provided by a generator and some extra strands of Christmas lights. Festive!

There were many moments of sadness as well, as we've spent the past week saying goodbye to our ailing, 15 year old cat, Banjo, whose strong will and determination is holding him here with us for the time being--but the end is near. But, our Christmas--with it's little imperfections, moments of sadness and goofy snafus--I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was ours and that, makes it just perfect.