Christmas Memories

My friend Anne had a post this week about singing Christmas carols with her grandfather. So sweet, and it made me cry a little. 

Now, mind you, I do not ever recall hearing Papa or Grandpa sing. In fact, I distinctly remember Grandpa picking which mass he went to based on how much (or how little, really) singing would be done. I also remember that Grandpa would wear bright red suspenders under his sport coat sometimes to church. I think because it bugged Granny. 

It got me thinking about Christmases of my childhood. I don't remember lots, but I do remember one year (I don't recall which one) that the pipes in our house were frozen. We had to stay at Granny and Grandpa's on Christmas Eve. I am pretty sure that we all still believed in Santa Claus, and worried about how Santa would know where to find us. I remember opening presents on the blue shag carpet in Granny and Grandpa's living room. I think that was the year we got the "Dukes of Hazard" steering wheel toy. The other things I remember about assorted Christmases at Granny and Grandpa's was how sometimes Grandpa would light a fire in their fire place. I remember thinking that was the coolest thing ever. In retrospect, I wonder if it was ever really cold enough in Houston to light a fire in a fireplace.

So Much Fun

Well, Mom and Brian both headed home today. Mom at the crack of dawn, Brian at about 1:30 PM. 

It was so much fun having them here. Thanksgiving morning, Brian and I ran/walked the Turkey Trot in Davenport. It was cold, but really fun. It was nice having B with me...he even went slow for me. We had a great meal Thursday. My friend Chanda and her mom Michelle came to share Thanksgiving dinner with us. We had such a good time. I made the WW pumpkin pie recipe. It is now my favorite pumpkin pie! It's got molasses in it, and all the usual pumpkin pie spices, but seems "spicier" than the recipe from the back of a can of pumpkin. Spicier in a good way. 

We continued our tradition of watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy until late at night. Then we added a new one: The Bourne Trilogy movies. I forgot how good those were. 

Mom helped me put up Christmas decorations. She even did my least favorite task of spreading out the branches on my artificial tree. We put lights in the bushes out front. I also got a new little snow man to add to the outdoor decorations. We had a little photo shoot, because I wanted a picture of me and Miner to send to mom, Granny and Erin. Here's a preview, but not the one currently being printed at the drug store. 

I did have to interrupt Mom's decorating to take her for a short ride in the bug with the top down. We drove over to a friend's house, but they weren't home, so we tooled around for a few minutes and came home. Then we finished the tree. You can see most of it in Miner's "bah humbug!" photo. Miner is definitely not a fan of photo shoots.

I love my friends

Just when I am thinking I'm going to have a crappy stretch of time between leaving Houston and going back to work on Monday, my friends do some amazing things.

Shawna and Payton picked me up from the airport. I love it when someone meets me in baggage claim! That hardly ever happens anymore.

Today, it was a triple great day.
1) My mail hold ended and I got 3 more Christmas cards from friends in WA, TX, and MO. The one from Larry and Missy was my favorite. Anthony is so cute!
2) My friend Jada (a native Texan and founder of the Displaced Texans) was in town. She came over and we hung out, chatted, caught up and had Whitey's ice cream for dinner!
3) Best of all: This morning, a FedEx truck pulled up and I am thinking to myself, I didn't order anything...I got a super special package from Quinn. My very own baggie full of the little tiny wreath cookies that Mama Quinn makes that I love so very much!


Yes, I have pink counter tops...so what?!

shopping...

...is sometimes fun and sometimes sheer torture for me. One of the nice side effects of being nearly single again is that I have 7 fewer people to buy gifts for. The Poussons decided last year that grown-up don't exchange presents...which was shot down by the Van Hooks. I know that it's the thought that counts, but I need more stuff like I need a hole in my head.

Thanks to the magic of the internet, the US Postal Service and UPS, all my Christmas shopping is done. I just had stuff shipped right to Mom and Dad's in Houston. Mom and Erin are under strict instructions to hide presents in the same closet where mom hid ours...and not to wrap them, because that is my favorite part. There are just a couple things for Owen that will travel on the plane with me.

And I already bought myself a nice couch for Christmas that will show up the week after, I think.