I know its a little late to be writing about Christmas and New Years but hey, I have the time now, so I am going to do it now.
We didn't actually have Christmas on the 25th this year because Ian and Deborah and family were coming into town but not until after Christmas. So we waited to open presents until New Years day. The actual Christmas day, the 25th, we didn't do anything really. We hung out at the house we were house sitting and my parents cleaned carpets at their house, and Sean moved out; you know, normal Christmas day stuff.
The rest of that weekend was spent getting ready for Ian and Deborah, oh wait just kidding, Ethan got sick and I got hardly anything done. We ended up taking Ethan into the doctor that following Monday because he had a high fever and we thought he might have an ear infection. Turns out he didn't and everything was fine which of course explains the fever perfectly, right?
So pretty much I bossed around my brother, husband, and daughter while I sat on the couch holding a sick, needy baby. Tuesday, Erin came over and hung out for a while which was nice. Erin was getting ready to go just as the snow graced us with its presence. Kiersten and AJ thought it was pretty neat. I have pictures of them standing at the back door together watching it snow. I will have to post pictures later.
Wednesday Ian and family showed up in the afternoon. It was good to see them. Lisa, my ex sister-in-law and family came down too. I haven't seen them since Kierstens baby blessing almost two and half years ago. I was so glad that they came down, I really enjoyed seeing them again. It was one full house though. I was glad that we had another place to stay. I was seriously having an anxiety attack because of the amount of noise and mess that was filling the house. I even had to steal one of my brothers inhalers because I was having trouble breathing.
Thursday I don't think we did anything exciting until the evening. I had made plans to hang out with Noelle and her kids that night and Ian said he wanted to join us so we were going to get together at the house we were house sitting at but then my mom and Noelle's mom changed the plans. Robin invited everyone over to her house for New Years Eve. I was really excited as was my mom. I can't remember the last time my mom went anywhere or did anything special for New Years Eve so I was really excited that she was getting out of the house and hanging out with some of her friends. But since Deborah didn't want to deal with Steven she kept hinting around for someone to watch him until my mom, at the last moment, after she was all ready to go, volunteered to stay home so that Deborah could put him to bed and go herself. So my mom ended up not even going to Robins which I was very unhappy about.
Happy New Year, it was pouring down rain and we had parked pretty far down the street. Trying to get two sleepy kids in the car in the rain, I had a rain, rain, go away moment there, not very fun.
The next morning we finally had Christmas. Everyone was tired from having been up late the night before so we didn't actually start opening presents until probably almost 11:30. I don't really know how to comment on the morning better than to just say, it was interesting. The atmosphere was tolerant, and passive and the adults tried their best to make it happy for the kids. Had their been no children there, we probably would have all taken our presents to another room and opened them there and said thanks later. Which might have been a better idea. There were so many people and presents and no one waited while other people were opening theirs and no one knew what anyone was opening and hardly anyone got thanked for the gifts they had given. I think I should be adding chaotic in as well. But hey we live and learn and now know never to have a huge Christmas like that again.
I know to those who are reading this post, which is a very small number of people, I know, they must think I am such. . . a grinch, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing my family. All of the Grandchildren were there, (which I never got a picture of, dang it) and we hadn't seen Ian and Deborah in six months and Lisa and the kids in two and half years. The only person that we were missing was Cory which is another story entirely.
I am not sure what happened or what caused the tension but it was there and it felt like everyone was walking on eggshells the entire time. I am still glad that everyone was here but next time maybe one family at a time or not so many people all staying in the same house, I think that would have fixed things. Either way, please know I enjoyed seeing them, I just didn't enjoy the chaotic, hectic, angry feeling that seemed to always be in the air.
Lisa and the kids left that weekend and Ian and Deborah left the following weekend. And now since Sean moved out we, have a second bedroom, YAY!! The kids sleep so much better just being in their own room, I guess I snore to loud or something. Sorry, side note, back to topic. I wish Lisa and the kids could have stayed longer, I really enjoyed visiting with her and the kids again. It was nice visiting with Ian and Deborah too and Kiersten loved seeing Sarah again, although the way they fought, maybe I am wrong about that.
In conclusion, Zac and I have decided that next year we are going to have our own Christmas, no extended family for any part of Christmas day. Christmas Eve, the day after Christmas, New Years Eve, and New Years are fine, but Christmas will be our very own next year. Of course that all depends on wether or not Zac is in the Navy and if so where he will be. But even if he is gone, I think it will still just be me and the kids.
