Monday, January 6, 2020

Vacation at the End of December

They had a nice time.  Great Wolf Lodge with all the fixings.  On their electronics, late nights, and scary videos (I cringed at that one as well).
A lot of swimming, rides, and great food.  Pizza, Portillos, Chinese, and I'm sure Costco.  They had their annual New Years Music Concert with guitar, piano. violin, and trumpet.  Your eldest came back talking like a teenager.  She loved the food, spending time with cousins, swimming, staying up late and trying to talk like she was a grownup.  It was fun listening to her.  And your baby trying to sleep on the way home.  He was so tired; you know.  They haven't talk about their presents and I'm afraid to ask.  For your baby's birthday Ben didn't want him to bring out one gift so not to make mom and dad feel bad.  Ben is very considerate of mom and dad's feelings.
As soon as I dropped them she went right to her hedgehog and he went straight to bed.  Sabrina doesn't like Molly and now stays up stairs....apparently under your bed.  AND!!!!  Corrie got married!  Engaged and married all in the same month!!!!!  Yep.  Saw her at the beginning of Dec. and without any mention....next thing is the announcement that she is married. 
Got to go pick up mom at the airport.  Love you.

To A New Year

It's here.  A new year.  A new beginning.  One that doesn't have any new pain.....yet.  I went to Texas to spend time with family.  It made mom happy, though I think it was more the shopping high that made her smile so much.  Grampa was terrible and looks miserable.  I have got to put things in place so that is not me in my old age.
Everyone was sick; Montana, Ryan, Uncle Bill, Aunt Tracy, Uncle Steve, Garrett, Scottie, and Grampa. 
I think I made Beckham cry every day I was there.  I thought I could be like AJ and do a fun activity with the younger cousins.  I took Fin and Beck to Whataburger for breakfast and all was going great until the dreaded thought that I could take them to Target for Hot Wheels came out of my mouth.  Well, Beck and I had different ideas of how much I was going to spend.  And Fin was the only one who ended with a toy.  I later gave Beck $5 to put in his piggy bank.
Then the next day I set off the house alarm going into the garage to get a bottle of water.  This woke up the boys and the next think I know Beck is crying.  Turned out Scottie got sick in the middle of the night so their sledding trip to N.M. was cancelled.  Man....I tell you.  If this kept up I was going to have to stay a different family member's house.
Didn't see much of the kids after that.....ha. ha.

I did take Levi out to lunch at Burger King and that was very nice.  So, that might be my fun little outing in the future.  Going for lunch at a place of their choice.

Found the CUTEST Betsy Johnson dress at Dillards!  Pink, Sheer, Ruffles, Stretchy, and it has insects on it!  So much fun!  I can't wait to wear it to school. 

Rachel wants to take Aunt Tracy to Charlotte.  Thought that might be a fun girls trip.  Maybe there will be a fun tea place?  How many Charlottes' are there in the States?  Maybe I should look that up first so we are all on the same page.

A new year.  You are not forgotten.  You are in every one of my smiles, giggles, and shopping trips.  Even though we are creating new memories you are there in our hearts, thoughts, and breath.  My tears will not be few; Love demands it.  I love you with all my heart.

Made It Through the Holidays

It was hard.  There were tears and sobs.  I barely made it through the Bible reading before opening gifts.  And it was weird, even a guilty feeling, knowing they weren't buying you any gifts.  We spent too much money.  I was over compensating for not buying you anything.  Maybe we all were.
Your daughter got a night stand.  You would love it.  Very plain; grey and white....just your colors.  Dad painted the outside white and kept the inner cubbies the original grey. 
Your son got a Lego set of Trafalgar Square.  That was their big gift from mom and dad.  I got skies.  I'm now a skier and trying to take more days off to spend time with dad up on the mountain.  He is big on drills...Lord help my shins.
Your baby also got a mountain bike.....because we know how much he loves extreme sports...ha, ha.  And your eldest got a chrome book....it's huge.  She loves it and they set it up right way.  They were the only ones who got stockings this year.....(well, I got one the next day because mom knows my heart.)  Ben did great on gifts!  Next year I will do better.  I think he wants gifts that he can work/figure out during Christmas day.  Electronics.
That night mom, dad, and I went to the night service so we could listen to a choir singing so our minds focus on the birth of our Christ.  It was emotional for me.  You have better music and I'm sure your singing nonstop with the voices of all the angels. 
The coffee cake was delish!!  And you would have loved it.  Someone else made the eggs..... Mom was surprised.  And we had sausage instead of bacon.  I thought mom was going to start crying but we had a little Christmas of our own the next day and she made her bacon then....and burnt it; poor mom.
They tried their best with the Advent Calendar.  Ben is tired and I don't know if planning is really his calling.  But for a 'Fly By the Seat of their Pants' Advent year I think it went pretty well.  One night they went to buy Onzie PJ's and went off to the zoo lights.

And Christmas morning I took them to the traditional trip to the airport.  And they were off.

So we have survived Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The magic is gone; it left in April.  Knowing it was never going to be the same.  Waiting for the 'holidays' to end and thinking non-holidays have less pain.