Christmas 2015

It's nine days into 2016 and to say that it's come in like a lion would be a total understatement.  We never would've dreamed of all that would change in just a short week...but, for now I'm going to take a moment to reflect on the end of 2015, since life continues to barrel forward.

The girls and I started our break on Monday of Christmas week.  Nathan had to still go to school on Monday and Tuesday, but on Tuesday his school had a holiday sing-along.  The girls and I were able to join him.  We even got to bring cousins Mayah and Micah who had just driven in from Colorado.  It was fun.  We love to see Nathan in his school element and they sang a great selection of songs.  It was even right before his lunch, so we stole him away to Subway for a fun lunch-and then promptly brought him back to finish his school day (which I think was mainly partying).

I enjoy watching him sing, it brings joy to my heart.

 

Nathan's first day of break was Wednesday December 23. After staying up way too late watching Minions and wrapping Christmas presents, we left this day for Papa's!  Matt had to stay and work one more day (someone's got to), but the kids and I left and got a head start on cookie baking.  It was great because two of my sisters, Brenda and Amy, were able to be there also.

This is what usually happens at Papa's.  Evelyn is pretty glued to him.

Christmas Eve we traditionally meet with the Widman family.  These are my aunts, uncles, and cousins on my dad's side.  It's the only time of year we get to see many of these people.  It's always a good time, and even our kids look forward to seeing their second cousins...even if they can't remember their names!

Quite a few kids were missing this year, but here's the bunch that was present!

For several years, we've been meeting in the American Legion hall in De Smet.  It works well and now it just seems normal.

The second cousins draw names and do a gift exchange.  Always a highlight!

 

It's hard to go wrong with babies and Ninja Turtles!

In years past, the adults have done a white elephant exchange.  This year, Aunt Val (love her) started a bingo game.  There were even prizes available, so of course the kids loved it.  Perhaps it will be a new tradition!

 

Mainly though we play, run around and chit-chat...

Fast friends are made over Ninja Turtle love.

 (these are three great men)

 Barrett, with his grandpa, is currently the youngest member of the family!

Following our time with extended family, we attended church and then drove back to Papa's house.

I tried to get a photo of the full moon, but was limited by my lens and photographic skills.  It was super bright.  I guess there won't be another full moon on Christmas until 2034!

We ate appetizers and ham sandwiches for dinner.  Then it was time for jammies and presents.  It's always a full house!

 

It's hard to tell what it is, but Matt got his phone charger returned (from Amy) as a Christmas present!

 

The girls were all excited to get Calico Critters.  I believe Addie got the kangaroo family.

 

Nathan was very excited to get both Rush Zone (a football game he's been wanting) and a Pacman plug and play game.  He even later referred to it as a Christmas miracle that he got everything he wanted!

 

Addie got a knitting machine from her cousin.  She loved it, and Matt loved rolling the yarn into a ball all.night.long.

 

Here's the knitting machine getting ready for action...

 

and leg warmers!

 (made 90% by the efforts of Matt, who we may now have to refer to as "The Knitting Machine")

 

Christmas morning, we opened (more) presents, feasted on a turkey dinner, then cleaned-up and drove back to our home.  We had our family Christmas that night.  It was very low key.  We ate some leftovers from lunch, drove around and looked at lights for a very short time because the weather was getting bad, then came home for yet another gift exchange.

This year, for the first time the kids drew names for each other.  The rule was they had to pick out and buy the gift by on their own.  Given budget restraints of certain kids, we made the limit $5.  After shopping with the girls one day I wanted to up it and just help them a little with the extra cost, but I decided to stick to my guns! I'm glad I did.  Everyone put thought into their gifts and really enjoyed giving. (Yay, because that was the point!)

Nathan and Addie ended up drawing each other's names.

Nathan got Addie some headphones, which she loved!

(Matt took Nathan shopping, and they did spend more than $5.  Slight miscommunication, but we figured it's okay because Nathan has stashes of cash).

Addie picked out a Lego Mixel for Nathan.  She chose this one because it was purple, but it turned out he said this is the one he wanted!

 

 Evelyn and Ella had each other's names.

Evelyn picked out a hair bow and a Little Pet Shop for Ella.

 

Ella picked out some dress-up shoes for Evelyn.  They're Evelyn's favorite princess, Anna from Frozen.

 

 I was glad the gift exchange went so well, we'll definitely do it again!

Matt and I also got each of the kids a small gift.  We don't get them a lot because they get so much from others.  For example, we got Ella the robe she is wearing.  

Matt and I don't typically exchange gifts.  This year I got him a gift card to go see the new Star Wars movie with a friend, and I was expecting nothing in return.

Instead he surprised me and got me a new camera lens!  I've been wanting a better portrait lens for a long time, but wouldn't ever justify the money to buy one for myself.

I was so excited! I love that now I can finally get that bokeh I've been craving!  I did lots of little test shots changing focal points and then showing the kids what the image looked like.  

This was Nathan's favorite.

(he's behind a family of sea otters :)

In addtion the kids opened up gifts from Matt's mom.  (I feel like I just keep talking about gifts)  Nathan was super excited to get a new game for his 3DS.  It was a remix of original Nintendo games.

Matt perhaps liked the game a little too.

I can't remember what conversation was taking place here, I just remember it was funny.

 

 (I obviously enjoyed playing with my lens...can't wait to take it outside!)

The girls got some LPS from Grammy.

 

The following day was low key.  We did enjoy a Skype call with Grammy and Grandpa Joe.  You can see Addie in the background jamming out with her headphones.

 

We cancelled travel plans to Minnesota because of the weather and instead spent the weekend snuggled in.  

 

We still have yet to celebrate Christmas with Matt's family.  The weather has not cooperated well, but we'll get there!

The Christmas celebrations we have enjoyed have been wonderful.  We have a great family and much to be thankful for!

Christmas on the Farm.

 One more Christmas post...this may be the last!

Our family had been building up to Christmas for so long, and on Wednesday December 24th it was finally here.  Growing up we always got together with my dad's side, the Widmans, on Christmas Eve and then that evening we did our immediate family Christmas.  Christmas morning we usually drove to Sioux Falls to celebrate with my mom's family, the Garners.  I loved going to the Garners for Christmas, but there was something special about just our little family of 6 being together Christmas Eve night that always made that my favorite (and honestly it likely had something to do with presents...my mom was big into presents!)

Still, for the Widmans Christmas Eve is the big day.  It definitely looks a little different now since we've all multiplied, but it's still one of my most favorite days of the year.

Though we don't need to travel far, and we only spend one night, getting ready to go is a big chore.  Christmas Eve morning I got all my food ready (2 appetizers for dinner that night and a salad for lunch).  Cookies and other goodies were already baked and at my dad's!  

Evelyn is always right where the actions is.

Because our family has grown (I count 49, give or take, if every one is there), the matriarchs and patriarchs of the family have decided it's too crowed and too much work to meet at someone's home.  So, for the past several years we've met at the American Legion hall.  My kids cannot get this name right though...they call it the union, the pavilion, the region, or the pancake house (we went to a pancake feed there one time about four years ago).  It's not as warm and cozy as a home, but after you do something for so long it becomes comfortable.  It seems bizarre, but I'll always have warm thoughts about the Legion and associate it with love and family.

The kids do a name exchange and so they all get one gift at the Widman Christmas.  The adults do a white elephant gift exchange.  Gifts can range from practical to humorous.

Uncle Rog, who may or may not get the concept of white elephant, received this beautiful wig.

Matt received a white elephant re-gift from cousin Ross.  It's a journal with Ryan someone on the cover.  It's titled "Hey girl", and every page has a quote like "Hey girl, let's snuggle."  Here Matt is reading Ross' journal entries dated 12-24-2013 and 12-24-2014.  

It's classic.

There's one other boy second cousin that is similar in age to Nathan named Stran. They usually get each other's name.  They did again this year.  Nathan got Legos....score!

We eat, we exchange gifts, and we sit around talking or playing games.   I'm so thankful to have so many members of my extended family that are nearby.

Here's a group from the Andersen family.

Ninja Turtles were very popular this year.  

Here's Evelyn learning about TMNT from Jacob and Miles.

I don't think it's an official Widman get-together until someone plays Spoons.  No blood was drawn this year.

Matt, Nathan, and Stran decided to take the Jenga challenge.  It was Ella's gift.  I like that Nathan is also sitting with my sister's white elephant gift...a black purse and beautiful gold chain.

There are bonuses about meeting at the Legion, such as gavels and flags.  There's also a plethora of fly swatters and the potential to play some serious bingo.

At 4:00 we go to the Christmas Eve church service, and from there we head to the farm.  It's a busy time of getting food ready (because we need more food, right/?) bringing in suitcases and of course, changing into pajamas.

Nathan and Micah love their gaming time, so that is what they chose to do.

Evelyn has always adored my dad.  She's definitely Papa's girl.  You can also get a glimpse of the new recliner all of us girls (and our husbands) bought my Dad for Christmas.

 (You may have noticed Homer Santa...he's becoming a regular attender to Widman Christmas also.)

Still gaming...

Matt took this (terrible) photo of me.  Though it's not a great shot of yours truly, it does show the fullness of the counters.  I'm doing dishes to make more space.  I think my sister Brenda was even doing laundry (hence the open closet door behind me).  

(Besides Spoons and Homer Santa, wine is also essential at Widman Christmas).  :)

The house is filled with people and presents, (and usually some yelling and/or crying).

It's almost the way it should be; there's just one recliner we wish wasn't empty.  My mom was so good at Christmas.  She made everyone feel loved.  Her presence will always be missed.

The cousins all draw names.  There are ten of them total so they each get one cousin gift.  My dad gets each child gifts also (he enlists us to do some of the shopping for him).  My sister's and I exchange gifts with each other too, but the husbands get to just observe and take it in.

Nathan got a RC helicopter that he loves, Ella got some books and shoes for her doll, Addie got an "American Girl" doll (from Target), and Evelyn got a stuffed penguin.  There were other gifts too of course, just too much to write down!  I think the most popular gift ended up being the $5 skeins of yarn I bought for Ella and Addie.

The tricky part of doing Christmas together is different views of Santa.  We've always (or almost always) been honest with our children about "the man in the suit".  We've taught them about Saint Nicholas, and how he gave gifts to those in need to show God's love.  We've told them that now people like to continue to give gifts in secret from Santa as a fun tradition.  We do get our kids a gift from Santa because all of their cousins (who believe in Santa) will get a gift from him Christmas morning.  (Yes, we've also talked with them about being respectful and non-argumentative to other cousins!)

However, every year when in the moment of putting out cookies and milk they get caught up in the excitement and think maybe he's real.  This year there was even a Santa-tracker!  I definitely do not want to be the mom to spoil Christmas cheer, but the anxiety level was getting high for some.  So, when we laid our kids down to bed, we had to go through all the truth about Santa, in a gentle, loving, Christ-honoring (I hope) kind of way.  I should be clear that if families choose to "do Santa", I'm completely okay with that.  We have just chosen not to, and it worked out for the best because we have one child who is especially a little anxious and wouldn't sleep knowing that a strange man was coming into house in the middle of the night.  (I should also add that if my kids flat out ask me if Santa is real, I can't seem to tell them no.  I usually skirt the question by talking about St. Nicholas and Christmas traditions, which may be why they get confused!)

Christmas morning came and all was well.  Everyone (dad's included) received gifts in their stockings.  The children were very excited to find all their little treasures.

Evelyn was most excited about a candy cane filled with Skittles.

We used to head out to Matt's family in Minnesota on Christmas morning, but the past few years we've met with them on the most convenient weekend near Christmas.  So, we were able to spend the day with my dad again.  My sister Brenda and her family stayed as well, and we had a lovely Christmas dinner of turkey and the fixings.  

The kids played with new toys and even got outside to play in the newly fallen Christmas Day snow.  We headed back home that afternoon since Matt worked the next day, and Christmas on the farm was officially over.  

Again, I'm so thankful that our whole family could be together...I know that's a luxury not many people have.  Our Christmas may not always be perfect, (we are not perfect), but we love each other!