Christmas in Martinsburg

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Daniel ended up getting Friday after Christmas off - YAY!  So we left pretty early that morning for Martinsburg to see the Miller side of the family.  We were really anxious to see Grandma, in particular, since we (or at least Emily and I) had not seen her since she began her lymphoma treatments.  While most of her hair was gone and she had lost quite a bit of weight, I thought she looked terrific and definitely handled the onslaught of Christmas company like a total champ.  Go Grandma!  Her last scan showed no more cancer so here's to hoping she officially kicked cancer's proverbial  butt!!

Anyway - we mostly hung out on Friday afternoon and evening waiting for all the cousins to arrive and we didn't have to wait long. About an hour after we arrived, Charles, Alison, Everett and Griffin arrived and then about an hour after them, Laura, Andy and Jacob arrived.  By dinner time it was a full house!  And now that I am sitting here typing this, I  really really wish I would have taken a group photo around the table (tables, actually, since there were 12 of us).

Saturday morning we were up and out pretty early to go to Westminster Canterbury to see Great-Grandma Miller and Great-Grandma Gamble. Both are really getting on in years, but hanging in there pretty well.  Grandma Gamble did not really know who we were I don't think, but she gave pleasant hellos to all of us.  Then she was ready to return to her room.  Grandma Miller did a little better.  I think she knew who most of us were and we spent some time talking with her before taking the kids for ice cream to give Daniel, Charles and Laura some time with her.  It was really nice to be able to visit with both of them, even if only briefly.

   

About lunch time we headed back home, grabbed a quick lunch and then it was time for MORE presents.  Emily's favorite gifts included Nintendo Labo, a new Lilly Pulitzer poncho, a  Nintendo Switch case and game, another Pusheen stuffed friend and a pile of gift cards to her favorite stores.

   

I  wish I could say that I saw what all the boys unwrapped, but there was so much activity that I think i missed a lot of it. Jacob got a lot of active wear and gift cards.  Griffin got a lot of superhero dress-up costumes (as is probably evident from the pictures)  and I think Everett got books, Legos and a football helmet.

   

   

   

As for the grown-ups, I can't even begin to describe what everyone got, but what I can say is that there were a whole lot of smiles and laughter in the room that day and everyone seemed to just enjoy being together.  It was a really great afternoon and we were definitely counting our blessings that we ALL got to be together this year.  And, while I may not have a great group shot, I did manage to get everyone into some pictures.  Next year, a group shot for sure.  #familygoals

   

   

Christmas 2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Well, the big morning finally arrived - Christmas!  Everyone slept a little later than in past years too, which was a nice early present.  Daniel was also on call this year and amazingly he made it all the way through Christmas dinner before getting called in for a couple of cases.  Another nice surprise.

We started our morning as we usually do with the kids getting to open their stockings before breakfast.  I  learned this year that 11 year old Santas are still much more interested in their own stockings than in the stockings they stuffed for others.  :-)  And, I also l earned that grandma and grandpa in matching Christmas jammies are pretty darn cute.  Emily's favorite stocking items this year were 2 Pusheen vinyl characters, Disney pins and Xbox gift cards.

   

   

Then after stockings we had breakfast (eggnog coffee cake and chocolate donuts that were decorated to look like reindeer for the kids) and then it was time to tear into the presents!!  Emily's favorite gifts this year were her VEX robotics kit, a new iPhone, an electric toothbrush and a camera.

   

   

   

 Other favored gifts included a new Pusheen box filled with Pusheen stuff, a Pusheen bathroom set (towels, shower curtain and bathmat), a new pair of skate pants and a fluffy cardigan for keeping warm on winter nights.

Karen and Wesley also enjoyed their Christmas and got lots of great gifts including a very popular tanker truck for Wesley and some dolls and flippy sequin mermaid blanket tail for Nora.

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Grandma and Grandpa both got new winter coats, some personal clothing items, Emily's blog book and one of Emily's new skating photos as well as some other goodies.  Daniel got a new electric razor and a standing desk for his bike/treadmill.  I got a new sweater and shoes as well as some Disney pins for my collection.  And of course everyone received lots of other stuff not mentioned here.  Very lucky family.  Big Christmas!

   

   

          

For her part, Zoey got a stocking filled with treats, time under the Christmas trees and a lap.  Happy kitty.

   

   

The rest of Christmas was filled with helping the kids enjoy their new gifts and just time relaxing together.  In fact, most of us spent alllll day in our matching pjs!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Cousin love.

Christmas Eve 2018

Monday, December 24, 2018

This year marked the first time Emily got to be a Santa. A little sad for this mommy who loved being Santa every year for the last eleven Christmases.  But, it was time to pass the magic on and so we did.  We took Emily to Target and she got to be Santa - filling Nora and Wesley's stockings.  The we wrapped everything up and stuffed the socks!  Then it was time to play!

   

When the excitement of play was waning, it was time to decorate Christmas cookies.  Wesley passed on this part (he was more interested in the penguin slide toy), but Nora and Emily had a blast, they only tasted a little bit of the frosting and in the end their cookies were yummy!

   

   

After the cookies were decorated (and clearly ready for eating) we all had a quick lunch and then it was time for gingerbread house construction!  We got two different styles this year just to change things up.  Nora got a cottage and Emily built a little A-frame.

   

   

The girls had a blast using some of every kind of candy available and putting it all on the houses and the end results were terrific!

   

Then it was time to clean up and start preparations for the Christmas Eve feast!  Dan was going to be on call on Christmas Day so we decided to have our big meal today instead.  We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes,corn pudding, broccoli, crescent rolls and cranberry sauce.  Then for dessert we had Grandma's famous chocolate ice cream log!

   

After dinner it was time for FAMILY JAMMIES!

And then, just before bed, it was time to feed the reindeer and leave treats for Santa!

   

   

   

And with everyone tucked in tight, it was time to wait for a little Christmas magic... and we didn't have to wait too long for the man in red.

I feel pretty confident that Santa took great care of the kids this year.  Time will tell in the morning.  Until then, Merry  Christmas to all and to all good night!