Christmas this year was spread out over several days. We visited both grandparents and had lots of fun playing with cousins. It was a whirlwind trip as the forecast indicated at least freezing rain and we didn't want to be caught driving in that.
Our trip started the Saturday before Christmas at Grandpa's house (Craig's Dad). As always, the kids had fun playing on his swing set. This visit, even N was able to play outside. He had to try the dirt and acorns. He also discovered the slide! What fun!
Since Craig's step-mother is of Hispanic origins, she prepares a traditional Mexican Christmas dinner. This was our 1st year to visit on their actual feast day. I'm not sure the kids enjoyed it too much. Several didn't eat anything but chips. S did at least try a tamale. Real Mexican food has a different taste and texture than Tex-Mex from Taco Cabana or even Mama's kitchen. However, it fit well with our Christmas around the World study.
After dinner, the kids opened their presents - noise makers for the boys and barbies for the girls. N and Z are having fun chasing each other around the house with the dump truck. Z drives and N chases.
Before we left, the older girls gave Grandpa a mini concert. C has been working hard to lean the guitar and the song Spanish Theme.
We headed home from Grandpa's house in time to arrive home before dark. N doesn't like being in the car after dark, so much so that he's been known to scream for hours. So, we try to arrange our schedules to make sure we are home before dark. Yes, he will out grow it, S did.
On Monday, we visited with my family. This year (and the main reason we couldn't rearrange our trip around the snow), my Grammie came to my mom's house. She is in fairly good health except for her memory. She forgets pretty much everything and continually asks the same questions. She doesn't remember the visit. However, her great grandchildren will and they will keep her memory alive in the future.
Grammie sat on her couch with Sadie at her side most of the day. My mom made her a list of all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This way, she could put names to families. I told the kids to just answer with their name and who they belong to. Since the kitchen was close to the chair and we were fixing dinner, any time we'd hear "Who's ____________?" We'd just raise our hand and let her see our face and keep going. Grammie did recognize me. She just couldn't put a name to my face. I guess I look like my Mom!
N wasn't too sure about all the people and noise. It helped him greatly that he had just spent the weekend with my parents at our house when they came for the piano and violin recital. It helped too that Papaw brought him that very cool rocking horse! He would only visit with them at first. C also spent quite a bit of time visiting with Grammie. I didn't get a picture of it, however, I'm told that H also spent some time visiting with Grammie. Apparently, I wasn't specific enough in my instructions to the trouble maker. I was told by S that she caught H telling Grammie her name was Caroline after she had been asked 10 times in a row "And what's your name?" Unfortunately, it wasn't as she ran past, the 10 times happened in the span of 5 minutes and 1 conversation. S said Grammie looked at her paper and starting reading them off saying "I don't have a Caroline on my list". H took that opportunity to remove herself from the vicinity. I later told my Mom about it, knowing that Grammie wouldn't remember anyway. She told me she wondered who would crack 1st. All I can say is "That's my little trouble maker!"
The kids had fun playing with Mamaw's toys. N discovered Sadie and thought that was great! Sadie did very well and let him pet her without nipping or barking. Later, as he became more accustomed to the house and people, N ventured into the kitchen and found the plastic container cabinet. He's a great one for entertaining himself!
Since Grammie didn't know the kids and she wanted them to remember her and her visit with them, she asked all the grandkids to buy presents from her for the great-grandkids. For our family, she gifted them with ornaments for our tree so that they will remember her every year as they decorate. She also gave them books and necklaces and poppy-eyed squeeze monsters (check out Hallmark). We put the presents in a bag and let Grammie pull them out and pass them out to the kids so she could see who she was giving them to and what they were getting.
S drew this for Mamaw and Papaw for their present. It's a picture she drew of my Dad's parents who both have died in the last 4 years. She told them she drew it to remind them of Nonie and Grandaddy since they probably missed them as much as she does. What a tender heart!
Our trip started the Saturday before Christmas at Grandpa's house (Craig's Dad). As always, the kids had fun playing on his swing set. This visit, even N was able to play outside. He had to try the dirt and acorns. He also discovered the slide! What fun!
Since Craig's step-mother is of Hispanic origins, she prepares a traditional Mexican Christmas dinner. This was our 1st year to visit on their actual feast day. I'm not sure the kids enjoyed it too much. Several didn't eat anything but chips. S did at least try a tamale. Real Mexican food has a different taste and texture than Tex-Mex from Taco Cabana or even Mama's kitchen. However, it fit well with our Christmas around the World study.
After dinner, the kids opened their presents - noise makers for the boys and barbies for the girls. N and Z are having fun chasing each other around the house with the dump truck. Z drives and N chases.
Before we left, the older girls gave Grandpa a mini concert. C has been working hard to lean the guitar and the song Spanish Theme.
We headed home from Grandpa's house in time to arrive home before dark. N doesn't like being in the car after dark, so much so that he's been known to scream for hours. So, we try to arrange our schedules to make sure we are home before dark. Yes, he will out grow it, S did.
On Monday, we visited with my family. This year (and the main reason we couldn't rearrange our trip around the snow), my Grammie came to my mom's house. She is in fairly good health except for her memory. She forgets pretty much everything and continually asks the same questions. She doesn't remember the visit. However, her great grandchildren will and they will keep her memory alive in the future.
Grammie sat on her couch with Sadie at her side most of the day. My mom made her a list of all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This way, she could put names to families. I told the kids to just answer with their name and who they belong to. Since the kitchen was close to the chair and we were fixing dinner, any time we'd hear "Who's ____________?" We'd just raise our hand and let her see our face and keep going. Grammie did recognize me. She just couldn't put a name to my face. I guess I look like my Mom!
N wasn't too sure about all the people and noise. It helped him greatly that he had just spent the weekend with my parents at our house when they came for the piano and violin recital. It helped too that Papaw brought him that very cool rocking horse! He would only visit with them at first. C also spent quite a bit of time visiting with Grammie. I didn't get a picture of it, however, I'm told that H also spent some time visiting with Grammie. Apparently, I wasn't specific enough in my instructions to the trouble maker. I was told by S that she caught H telling Grammie her name was Caroline after she had been asked 10 times in a row "And what's your name?" Unfortunately, it wasn't as she ran past, the 10 times happened in the span of 5 minutes and 1 conversation. S said Grammie looked at her paper and starting reading them off saying "I don't have a Caroline on my list". H took that opportunity to remove herself from the vicinity. I later told my Mom about it, knowing that Grammie wouldn't remember anyway. She told me she wondered who would crack 1st. All I can say is "That's my little trouble maker!"
The kids had fun playing with Mamaw's toys. N discovered Sadie and thought that was great! Sadie did very well and let him pet her without nipping or barking. Later, as he became more accustomed to the house and people, N ventured into the kitchen and found the plastic container cabinet. He's a great one for entertaining himself!
Since Grammie didn't know the kids and she wanted them to remember her and her visit with them, she asked all the grandkids to buy presents from her for the great-grandkids. For our family, she gifted them with ornaments for our tree so that they will remember her every year as they decorate. She also gave them books and necklaces and poppy-eyed squeeze monsters (check out Hallmark). We put the presents in a bag and let Grammie pull them out and pass them out to the kids so she could see who she was giving them to and what they were getting.
S drew this for Mamaw and Papaw for their present. It's a picture she drew of my Dad's parents who both have died in the last 4 years. She told them she drew it to remind them of Nonie and Grandaddy since they probably missed them as much as she does. What a tender heart!
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