Memories Hidden In Christmas

As the Christmas season has ended and I have taken down my tree unchariteristically early this year, I sit and think back on all of the wonderful reasons why I love Christmas time. Some favorite memories of the Christmas that was;

* Sitting around a passed down, well-loved table in our amazing friends (D & C) new home just laughin so hard that we are all crying. We had drove the 4 hours the night before - we arrived to big smiles and warm hugs, took a tour of the excitedly new digs and then sat with a few glasses wine and just talked. We awoke to yummy "flat pancakes" and then the ladies took the dog to the park and the guys fixed something - like they do ...... we came back and D made hot chocolate and baileys and C & I decorated the tree as T napped on the couch. C & I set the table together for all of the friends to come and enjoy, and then everyone started arriving and it was wonderful. As we sat down to a delicious meal, all crowded perfectly around the table, we talked and laughed and loved. At one moment - as dirty dishes were still on the table but everyone had finished eating, I sat back and looked around the table and realized how much I am blessed with these friends. As 10 adults sat around the table we were all just laughing like kids - and making each other laugh. It is stolen moments like this - when no one notices my notices that I capture a mental picture of why my life is so full. At this moment I felt full, I was fulfilled, I could feel the ache in my chest like my heart was too full - and I looked at these people and thought of the good and bad we had been through together that year and realized that there would be more good, and bad, to come, but I took a moment and gave it to the past years moments. We had all come a long way, and we shared the happiness and split the pain - together.

* At work I love what have become our Christmas traditions – a grown up party and a longer-running kid’s party. This year the staff potluck gave us a reason to set up our Christmas tree early! Tr & I dug it out and spent a couple hours one snowy morning setting it up; this year we learned the downfall of pre-lit trees – when the lights go they are awful to get off! So we spent some more time laughing and pulling them off! That night our school cafeteria turned into a big household table, where friends gathered for good food and conversation, everyone brought something and I hope everyone took something away from the night – I did. A few weeks later was the kids party – amidst the busyness of grade entry and semester clean up we paused for a few hours so Santa could make his annual visit and the kids - that are growing up too fast – got together and played with their new toys! The room was full of laughter and fun – it was a feeling that only Christmas can bring. In our office we frequently talk about how lucky we are to have the jobs we do and to work where we do, but I think it is more so at Christmastime – we take that feeling of lucky and turn it to blessed and grateful. It is better still that every day we work with friends; we share opinions and stories and laughs and work. We proofread for each other and we learn for each other – at least I learn from them and they proofread for me! I love my job – which is a big part of my life.

* Christmas Eve Day is always rushed for us – with tons of driving but tons of family too. This year we woke up and took our big dog for a walk at the cottage – it was a beautiful winter day that was crisp, just one of those perfect days. We walked hand in hand watching our puppy frolic through the woods – it was quiet and relaxing – a perfect start to Christmas Eve.

* After that we loaded presents in the car and took off to my Moms place where we played card games and eat cheese, crackers and chocolates until everyone arrived. After the whole bunch was there and the little ones had woken we opened presents and played with our new goodies. My little nephews were my favorite part of this Christmas celebration! N is at such a wonderful age where Christmas is exciting and the presents never end, he helped everyone open their presents and then got right into this new stuff! E is still too little, but looked adorable and was happily passed around to help others open their gifts – next year he’ll be right in there too! I can’t wait. We set up some of Nate’s presents – the older boys being boys with “build a road” from Aunt S and Uncle T and trying to make it climb every piece of furniture and making just-opened-boxes into tunnels, my little brother and I almost passing out from blowing up his gift to his nephew – a ball pit that is so much fun! Then we sat to have a delicious family meal together – where we tease Mom 8about the lack of gravy and stuffing - and then we grab a few squeezes and kisses before heading out to our next Christmas celebration. I must say that N gives the best little hugs when he squeezes, and when he says “Luv you too” it melts my heart – admittedly, I say good-bye to him at least a few times to try to hear the “luv you too” more often!

* So, we jump back into the car, make a quick stop at home to let the puppy out and feed him and then load more presents into the car and head out to the farm. We meet Dad at the farm and he opens his presents and then we head into church with him. I must say, one of my favorite things about our Christmas Eve church visit is looking over and seeing my Dad pretending to sing along to the Christmas hymns! It just makes me smile and giggle just a bit and it brings back memories of my grandparents. It is a treasured place in my life for the memories that it holds – sitting in the very back pew with them almost every Sunday and almost every Christmas coming together as a family for the Christmas Eve service, I remember one specific year that my sister & I got the giggles and barely made it through the service. It is a place of great memories and of great happiness – I hope our children will love its smells and stories as much as I have.

* After church we drive Dad home and head back to our place to load up with presents one more time – this time also loading up the big puppy and our bags to a longer trip back to T’s childhood home. As we drive, T complains about all the driving and then falls asleep as I listen to CBC radio talk about Christmas. It is a quiet ride, but a peaceful silence – a Christmas silence, when the world gives you the gift of quiet so you can take it and think about all you have and why you love the season – it is not the presents or the dinners – it is the moments hidden in those times. I drive and think and appreciate – and look over at my still-new husband as he sleeps with our dogs head on his shoulder and I smile a smile that only I will see. I secretly love this drive every year ……. Tired and spoiled and church hymns freshly in my head usually with a light snow coming down – it is the calm in Christmas for me.

* We arrive at my in-laws to hugs and dogs playing and car unloading. We say quick hellos and then try to get to bed before midnight so we can wake up bright and early on Christmas morning. When we wake my husband sneaks out of bed and takes the puppies on a Christmas morning walk and I eventually stretch out, roll out of bed, into my Christmas pj’s from my Mom, and head for the kitchen for Christmas coffee and morning hugs from my in-laws. After T returns with the puppies and changes into his Christmas jammies, we wake up my sister in law J, make some hot chocolate and baileys and we each find our spot on the coaches around the beautiful fire and we open our stocking. After all stockings are open we each take turns opening a present at a time and sharing laughs and stories of Christmases past. It is a wonderful morning. We are joined by a special Aunt & Uncle and spend time together around the tree and then move to the kitchen for Christmas morning breakfast ….. well, brunch – it’s 11:30 at this point. Later in the day we will be joined by more family and a big Christmas dinner, where we still get to sit at the kids table, and then head out on a small Christmas walk because the weather is perfect and our bellies are full – and we are thankful.

It is the moments hidden in Christmas that make it special. It is about taking notice of those memories when no one else notices you taking it all in. I find peace in Christmas memories and traditions – I find love and appreciation in those moments. Christmas is a gift that allows us all the chance to slow down and take a breath and appreciate friends that are family and family that are friends.

Merry Christmas to all! A few days late, but said from the heart. I hope yours was special too!

XO,
S

Tis the Season for Mismatching

I love Christmas, and one of my first traditions of the season is putting up our real Christmas Tree and pulling out ALL of our decorations to dress it up (while the Mr. sits and watches to make sure I have enough lights throughout).

Our Christmas Tree is perfectly imperfect, it will never make the pages of a magazine, but it shows our life. It is decorated with love, it has;

4 pairs of "Tyler & Samantha" matching decorations
3 shoe decorations - all gifts to me!
a bulldog
multiple angels
a poker game tree
Santa surfing, Santa fishing (x2), Santa in a hot air balloon
Teddy Bears - lots
1 Sens and 1 Toronto Maple Leaf Decoration (Sens obviously higher on the tree!)
Penguins (3)
A cardinal in a bell (gift from a student)
Apples
Moose (2)
Snowmen

Plus ALL of the matching balls that are beautiful. The balls, without all of our other decorations, on the tree would make it a magazine tree, but that is not an option. What is Christmas with a tree filled with memories? I smile when I look at my horribly mismatched, over lit, overloaded Christmas tree - to me, it means Christmas.

XO,
S

The View from Here

I took today off to work on a final assignment for my communications course. Since I was home I let Odus out to hang out with me while I worked. After a few hours I felts his head leaning on my knees, I looked down and this was my super adorable view ......



Ahhh, the view from here is wonderful!

XO,
S