Scenes from Christmas

We just returned from a quick trip to see the in-laws for Christmas. We hadn't planned to make the drive this year, but a family reunion fell into place. We couldn't miss the party! All 37 members of the family, including the 4 newest toddlers, gathered for Christmas Eve Mass and Christmas day festivities. One of my husband's sisters lives in Newfoundland; a brother lives in upstate New York; we came from California with his other brother, and his other two siblings and their families live in Oklahoma.  It has been almost three years since all of us were together.  I'm always impressed with how well my husband's siblings get along.  They truly enjoy each other's company. And the cousins all seem to enjoy playing together, too.  It's a good thing, when we gather at my in-laws' house, which is not large. Fortunately, the weather was mild, so the kids could spill out onto the screened porch and into the yard.  We stayed at a hotel this time, although our older boys slept in Gram and Pop's camping trailer.  The drive is 20 hours; on the way out we broke the trip into two days. On the way home, we raced Winter Storm Goliath, and drove the entire trip in one go, since it took us 15 hours to get to a location where the storm cleared. Our oldest son, home from college, did some of the driving.  And the toddler was a great passenger. As long as I held her hand, she was happy. So my arm was a little sore when we returned.

The visit itself seemed to fly faster than the driving. We spent one morning at the zoo with all the littles.  The bigger kids went to see the new Star Wars movie.  We did some crafts: loom knitting and  cutting out paper dolls.  We ate a lot: Gram made 9 pies, which lasted a couple of days.  She also made her traditional cookies: sand tarts, pecan tassies, peanut butter balls and truffles, butterscotch birds' nests.  And Pop made sure everyone's favorite flavors of Braums ice cream were on hand.  Lots of wine and coffee were consumed.  The siblings have exchanged names for Christmas for many years, but this was the first we got to see everyone open their gifts. My sister-in-law is crocheting a beautiful blanket for me, but she didn't finish because I commissioned her to make Baby a rabbit and my other sister-in-law a sweater.  Instead of gifts for all the nieces and nephews, each family brought stocking stuffers for the twenty-three kids' stockings, which are felted designs my mother-in-law made. Our own kids just received a book, an outfit, and "gift cards" (slips of paper with a note) for one special gift each that they received back at home - 2 upsized new bikes, money towards a new laptop, a winter coat, a guinea pig, and fancy boots. We also played Rummikub and cards and watched Christmas movies.  We also brought the California norovirus that is making the rounds - the Christmas gift that keeps on giving!  We all were sick the week before, so I thought we were over our contagious stage, but later, after half the family had been struck down, including one nephew who suffered an attack in Mass, I read an article that this virus can live up to two weeks on a host.  I feel awful about sharing that!

Now for some visual highlights of the trip. I didn't get many good pictures because I was too busy talking to use the camera.

Tree decorating on the fourth Sunday of Advent

A lazy bear at the zoo

We took up four pews at church - arrived an hour early for the family Mass.

Volunteer photographer missed the mark. Fortunately, a different volunteer photographer got a much better shot.

Waiting to check out the loot.

Modelling gifts from the oldest brother. My tee may be my favorite gift of the day.  Also loved the start of my blanket. And the giant sausage from my brother. And my new raincoat from my husband. And my new calendar - every year Gram makes a calendar for each family with all the birthdays and anniversaries already notated.

Running from Winter Storm Goliath. Snow in southern New Mexico.