This post is going to be
quite long...It might just take you 2 sit down sessions to read...
CHRISTMAS EVE
While I was not actually
at home in Utah for Christmas, I did feel at home. I was to spend the
night of Christmas Eve at home with only Baby for company. Husband
was to work, as his employer does not deem Christmas Eve a holiday.
Husband was not ok with us being alone, so, to my great joy, he
suggested spending the night with the Bishop's family, some of my
favorite people. I talked to the Bishop's wife about it and since I
am, as she put it "one of the family" we were about to head
over on Christmas Eve when her daughter called to invite us all to
spend the entire night and Christmas Day with them. We were very
grateful for the offer and headed over. Husband then left for work.
The first part of the day
at the Bishop's house we (Baby, I and the 2 oldest daughters, with
Bishop's wife visiting occasionally) wrapped presents. I have never
before had so much fun wrapping. We talked and wrapped for hours with
Bishop coming in sometimes and telling us to wrap random things for
him...from him...lol. He gave himself a spotlight that he had meant
to give himself last year and then had us wrap a Moroni poster for
him...from his wife...boy was she confused on Christmas day when he
opened that. :)
After dinner, we went to
the Great room of the house. This room had about 10 couches and a
HUGE Christmas tree, the base of which was buried with presents. The
Bishop told us that Santa would be stopping by between 8 and 8:15.
The children then parted to tidy and do dishes. The littlest ones
were in the Great room tidying and all of the sudden jingle bells
were heard. The children came running frantically into the kitchen to
tell the women and older children they had heard Santa's bells and
then ran frantically back. After dishes we went back to the Great
room and we heard how Christmas came to be. (They do a live manger
scene normally, but it was too cold, so it was moved to the 26th). We
also heard a tale about how the children managed earlier in the year
to find a bell left accidentally by Santa. One of the little girls
showed it to us and asked her dad to leave it for Santa. We were then
led by the Bishop in Christmas songs. He would put us in groups and
have us sing at random times and as a group and sometimes sing by
himself, it was so fun. The oldest daughter and her husband then took
the floor and gave each boy a beautiful knife from China, I missed it
because I was feeding Baby (I saw them later), but I made it in time
to see their daughter read a beautiful poem about an oyster and it's
pearl and then give all the girls gorgeous pearl necklaces and
bracelets from China. I was fortunate enough to receive 2 pearl
bracelets which I adore and which match the pearl earrings and
necklace Aaron gave me last year. Then the Bishop got a call from
Santa and about 15 minutes later we heard his bells again. Now, keep
in mind that once the children hear the bells the second time they
are required by Santa to go to bed and fall asleep immediately. So as
you can imagine, once the bell rang, 17 or so children plus 8 or so
grandchildren ran as fast as they could out of the Great room and
into bed...well 3 stayed behind in shock at the commotion, but their
parents helped them into bed lol.
The adults (18 and older)
stayed up and exchanged gifts and thoughts and then became elves.
What fun!!!
CHRISTMAS
There would simply be too
much to write about Christmas, so I will sum it up, but still try to
do it justice.
We woke and found all the
children doing their chores. Once finished they all lined up and then
went into the Great room. There were not quite enough seats for
everyone so the older boys solved that problem by setting a couch on
top of one of the tables. (The table is huge and solid wood table, so
it was not dangerous at all.) The Bishop then picked a helper. This
person was to hand him gifts. He would call the name on the gift and
that person would come to the center of the couches (they were in a
semi-circle) and open their present. He would sometimes tickle, tease
or help the person opening the gift and that kept the gift opening
interesting. I was surprised to find that they included Baby, Husband
and I in the gift giving. The gift opening event was delightful. We
took a couple five minute breaks and an hour and a half lunch.
All-in-all it took us 8 or 9 hours to open all the gifts. Now, I have
heard that normally it is not that long, and that this was a
particularly special Christmas, but either way, I loved every minute.
After each present was opened they would all cheer and sometimes
Hoo-raa! Of course the greatest noise came when the WIIs were opened
and I thought I even felt the ground shake lol.
Aaron and I headed home
after dinner and opened gifts from our families and friends. It was
quiet and peaceful and Baby LOVED the wrapping paper. Here are some
pictures. (No, these are not all the events of our lives in the past
few weeks, but it is a good start and I will soon post more)
