Holiday preparations started in early November 2022 with outside lights strung up during the weeks before Thanksgiving. (Decoration takes longer as we get older. *sigh*)
Mid-December events brought a sad end to some celebrations and sister Dot's rehabilitation changed several of our holiday plans, but we adapted by starting some new traditions.....all of which will finish by 5 p.m. or before it gets dark.
Scheduling the Kansas contingent for a December gathering was difficult, as usual, so we ended up with Late'mas in February 2023. Is this becoming a tradition??
Andrew couldn't stay in St. Joseph because of work the next day but Adam, Sarah and Riley spent the night....in the cold, downstairs bedroom. (Note to Adam for next year...blankets are in the closet)
Kelly and Rodney stayed an additional night. The next day, Rodney vacuumed carpets with the Shark cleaner he gave me for Christmas and did some odd jobs that I had requested earlier. Kelly and I didn't do anything constructive. Maybe the Irish Creme we drank the night before affected us ???
We were able to celebrate Christmas in December 2021 on the day after Christmas (Dec. 26th) 2021. Good weather and a Sunday date allowed all to attend. Unfortunately, mom-to-be-soon Sarah didn't feel well so she stayed back in Lawrence.
Snacks were available while we waited for all to arrive. Kelly and Rodney were first, coming in the afternoon so they could visit with Pudgie while in St. Joseph.
We opened presents before the meal so we could take time afterward to enjoy the ribs, turkey in gravy, ham sliders and various sides.
Adam's offer to set up Chromewatch on the living room tv turned into a hilarious debate regarding Apple iPhones vs. Android operating systems. Adam succeeded in the installation, using my iPhone, despite the number of comments regarding how easy the setup is for Android users. We then watched past Christmas videos that I had uploaded to YouTube. (All are available on this blog)
Andrew, Alee, and Adam didn't stay all night but Kelly and Rodney did. The next day, Rodney had a Mom's Day with his mother while Kelly had a Mom's Day with me.
Delaying Christmas until February has almost become traditional now that we've done it for the second time in two years. Also, by waiting, I was able to get both my Covid shots before we met.
Kelly and Rodney arrived EARLY. I wasn't finished dressing when they called to let me know they were in town. Andrew and Alee soon followed. Adam overslept and decided to come later...much later....like two weeks later.
We had snacks and a buffet meal then Rodney took over the clean-up chores before we opened presents. Later in the evening, Andrew discovered that he had eaten over half of a 12 pack of rolls when fixing his favorite chicken and gravy sandwich.
Around midnight, Andrew and Alee decided to stay all night so we played games. Rodney gave up before we started, but the rest of us stayed up until 2 am. (I was the winner.)
After Andrew and Alee left the next morning, Rodney installed the carbon monoxide detectors they'd given me for Christmas. Then he tested my old batteries and arranged new ones in a plastic tub which was another gift.
The Christmas tree downstairs remained up until Adam was able to celebrate FebMas with me. He took me to dinner at Barbosa's--I hadn't eaten there for over a year--and then we opened presents and chatted. In fact, we chatted so late that Adam decided to spend the night. (He got to sleep in the big folk's bedroom.) Our conversation continued the next day until Adam left around 4 in the afternoon.
Any day can be a holiday when celebrating with family.
With Covid concerns restricting get-togethers, we adjusted our traditional Christmas plans. Rather than attending Christmas Eve church services and opening presents afterwards, we decided to open presents after dinner on Christmas Day.
This may become a new tradition! I especially liked not driving home at night.
Although we had planned to have Christmas 2019 in January 2020, scheduling conflicts pushed the celebration into February. The downstairs tree was already decorated in red and white, so creating a Valentine's theme was easily done by adding a paper heart and white roses to the December centerpiece on the dining room table.
Kelly and Rodney arrived around 4 in the afternoon, a little earlier than I had expected. Andrew and Alee came a few hours later. We snacked on celery (Alee's choice), chips, spinach and cheese dips and creme cheese topped with jalapeno jelly while waiting for Adam and Sarah.
I asked Rodney to be the official photographer and handed over my camera. Unfortunately, I hadn't used it for a long time and couldn't remember how to set it for still photos instead of video. Not a problem though and Rodney took video until the 4 gig card was full. Then we switched to our phones and captured more video and pictures.
After we opened presents, I read the notes from Andrew, Alee and Adam about the charities they had chosen this year. Their choices were deeply personal and sparked discussion and reflection.
Supper followed presents. Meat choices were pulled pork and turkey and gravy on buns (Andrew's favorite) and hot ham sliders. (The left-over ham sliders went home with Sarah.) Side dishes included baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad, and broccoli salad. During the after-dinner table conversations, Rodney cleared the table, loaded the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen, giving me time to enjoy family. When we moved to the living room, Adam and I slipped away for a while to discuss stock investments.
The kids went back to Lawrence but Rodney and Kelly stayed all night.
The next morning, Rodney visited his mother while Kelly and I slept in. Rodney also went shopping and returned with a digital meat thermometer and a big bottle of dish detergent. I had trouble getting the ham sliders baked to the right temperature the night before so he saw that I needed a good thermometer. And, he had run out of dish soap when cleaning up. Great after-Christmas presents!
Delaying Christmas until February resulted in a relaxed holiday. We should do this again!
Planning for Andrew's wedding put the 2019 Christmas schedule into January 2020 but celebrations with Dorothy and Barney on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day continued as usual.
After Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24, we went to Olive Garden for dinner. We avoided a long wait for seating by heading to the bar. Our timing was great because a couple in a booth were getting ready to leave and we slid in right behind them.
When I checked my restaurant gift cards, I found some from 54th Street, Frederick Inn and Olive Garden. The Olive Garden one was a gift from Andrew several years ago. (And I still have some $$ left on an iTunes card Adam gave me.)
At Barney and Dorothy's after dinner, I added my presents to the ones spread under the tree. Then Marcee joined us via Facetime and we took turns opening our gifts.
My presents included original artwork by Wanda Taylor and Lana Cease. I am collecting local artists so these pictures will be valued additions. I took some colored pencil classes with Wanda and now have purchased every colored pencil available at the St. Joseph Hobby Lobby. Lana is a friend who will probably be famous one day and, thanks to my sister and bro-in-law, I have one of her original watercolors.
Dorothy and Barney invited me to join them for dinner on Christmas Day. My favorite dish was the mac and cheese so Dot gave me the recipe: Go to the grocery store, find Stouffers in the frozen food section.
After we cleared the table and filled the dishwasher, Dot brought out her gift from Marcee, a karaoke microphone. Barney, wisely, retreated to watch tv. We sisters sang and recorded each other singing. I think we sounded better in person than we do on the videos we made. LOL
Our singing reminded me of Christmas Past when Mother and Aunt Bea, after several "highballs," harmonized on "Whispering Hope." Although I captured their voices on a tape recorder, neither the tapes nor the equipment to play them still exist.
The Holiday Week started on Christmas Eve with Dorothy, Barney and I going to Ashland Avenue church for a Christmas service and to a gathering of friends afterwards. Later, we opened presents at Barney and Dorothy's.
Several days later, thanks to Kelly's coordinating efforts, the family Christmas celebration came together on December 29. Unfortunately, Rodney had to stay in Lawrence at the last minute.
Kelly, Andrew and Alee arrived in St. Joseph around 6:30. We snacked on hot dips, chips, and crackers (Alee went for the celery) while waiting for Adam and Sarah. We went ahead and started eating around 8 o'clock.
Ribs were the featured entree with ham sliders as a second choice. Sides included potato salad, broccoli salad (for Rodney), baked beans and pasta salad (for Kelly). Left-over Thanksgiving turkey in gravy over a bun proved to be the most popular menu item. *making note for next year*
Adam and Sarah came around 9:45. The ham sliders were a little toasty on top but Sarah didn't care. Later, she and Adam volunteered to take some home.
After we finished eating, we went downstairs to open presents. Andrew and Adam passed them out and then we opened them all at once. Again this year, Andrew and Adam's gift to me was a contribution to charity. Alee and Sarah participated also. Andrew and Alee chose St. Jude; Adam and Sarah chose the Lawrence Humane Society.
I received everything I asked for. Maybe because I texted photos to Kelly from Sam's Club and Walmart of just what I wanted ???
This year's missing $$ search was conducted by Kelly. This has almost become a tradition. We finally found the missing $ in an unopened present.
