I wrote about our Christmas plans last week over at Work It! Mom, but here is the run-down. Our (not so) wee family of five attends Christmas Eve service (one of my annual favorites) at our church and opens one present on Christmas Eve (new jammies). We then open the rest of our presents on Christmas morning. Until last year, we would then drive ten minutes to Matthew’s parents’ house and do Christmas with the extended family.
His parents moved to the Coast last year, which means that the ten minute drive is now four hours. On a good day.
We decided to stick with our tradition. Open presents here on Christmas morning and then drive to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
On Christmas Eve, as we were finding seats in the service, my cell phone rang. It was my Dad.
He also lives at the Coast and is a bus driver. The snow was coming down in grand proportions. One of his colleagues had been out on the roads and had told him of many accidents and a few fatalities. He said we should think twice about driving down.
We arrived home and had another message from a friend at the Coast cautioning us about making the trip.
On Christmas morning, all went as planned. I made homemade cinnamon buns, the kids opened presents and then brought them downstairs to play with them.
Matthew and I sat at the computer reading road reports, looking at highway cams, trying to figure out what to do. We called a friend who had traveled the road the day before and he told us that in 4WD it was all fine.
We decided to take our 4Runner and spent the next hour (or so) packing our gear into the truck. We were off! The roads were far better than we had anticipated.
My friends from the Southern States are all thinking, “ARE YOU CRAZY?” Which, well, yes, but that is not the issue here. Those roads are considered good up here in Canada during the winter.
Besides. It was a sunny, clear day.
We arrived mid-afternoon. There were presents opened (Wiiiiiiiii!!! Wii Fit!!!!!!) and more) and then it was time for dinner. Before we knew it, kids were melting down and getting ready for bed. We realized that we had not done the requisite family photo and sought to remedy it before any of them crashed for the night.
Do you know what happens when you have six parents and two grandparents yelling/chanting/singing at you to “Look here! Say cheese! Smile!”
THIS:
This:
Also, this:
And maybe, this:
Oh, yeah. And this:
Sigh.
Us adults thought we had better get in there before the tears were flowing and tantrums were raging. This is the best one I got:
(Sorry, Jennifer. I only took three photos, and Daniel’s eyes were closed in every single one. It was bed time, after all.)
We knew there was a storm warning so we left mid-day on Boxing Day to return home. Before you give me what-for for making the return trip the next day, let me tell you something. I ended up sleeping with the boys on a double-sized inflatable mattress. I use the term “sleeping” quite loosely. I am so tired it’s stupid.
Most of the trip was fine. A few flurries and some high clouds. Then, at a point that would normally be an hour from home, we were hit with The Storm Of Whiteout.
Yeah. NOT COOL.
Funny conversation in the midst if this to break up the tension:
Graham (out of the blue): “So, how old is Jesus?”
Me (with sideways glance to Matthew): “Erm…thousands of years old?”
Matthew: “Yeah. But he doesn’t look a day over thirty-three.”
We drove at a snail’s pace and made it home nearly three hours later. Along the way we saw many accidents and emergency vehicles. And also, two body bags. To state that I am thankful that we arrived home safely would be an understatement of epic proportions.
It was a quick visit, yes, but it was good to see everyone. The driving part sucked donkey balls so I am thinking that next year we should do Christmas in July. It seems like the logical thing to do.
I hope you all had/are having a safe and happy holiday!
*Remember that movie? It is so pickin’ cold that I an thisclose to burning books over here.
So! Our Halloween was…fine.
Nathan woke up in the morning with a blazing fever. He felt better once he had downed some Advil but I still opted out of our Friday morning Mom’s group. I did not want to infect the other children. I hate *really dislike it* when people bring their germ-infested, snot-encrusted children to an event and three days later I am dealing with my own booger wars.
Nathan had a lot of of down time during the day (when I could make him actually stay still) so that he would be rested up for trick-or-treating. He seemed his normal self all afternoon so we piled into the van and headed into town. We live in the sticks, so not a single soul comes to our house looking for candy. Nobody trick-or-treats out here, so we go into town to the good candy-giving neighborhoods.
We were not sure how the night would go as when we left the house it was pouring rain. We live in desert country, which means it only rains about once every three months. Of course, it had to be yesterday. Boo.
Me met up with the cousins.
Eeyore is my favourite Winnie The Pooh character, and this duck costume slayed me.
Ack! Could he BE any cuter?
Nope. I think not.
He took to his costume like a duck to water.
(Sorry. Couldn’t help it.)
The boots!
Those tights!
He almost makes me want another. Almost being the operative word here. That is so not happening.
I only took one photo of the actual trick-or-treating. Between the rain and helping the kids with their haul, there was no time for photos.
Here are the kidlets begging for candy.
Emily took to it like a pro.
More houses!
The lights are on!
More houses!
She was a little frightened by some of the Halloween decor (as was I), but thankfully most houses kept their decorations on the mild side.
We arrived home a little damp, but with a haul that filled four empty ice cream buckets. I placed all of the “unsafe” candy in a bucket for Matthew and I to share. The classification of “unsafe” was used fairly liberally.
The weirdest things the kids received were cans of pop. CANS OF POP. They ended up with three cans each. This is the first time the kids have received pop in their loot bag, and I can’t help but think it’s an odd “treat” to give.
Did your kids get anything that left you as befuddled as I am?
