Christmas is different now that are children are grown up and on their own. We are very lucky since both of our girls and their families live close, we can get together to celebrate a family Christmas complete with all the squeals and chaos of having children at Christmas.
We've had to figure out how to recreate our Christmas holiday time for two. We've had our Christmas Eve figured out for a few years now. Christmas day keeps evolving. As families grow and circumstances change the plans continue to change. Last year we had a Covid Quarantine Christmas day. Someone in Clay's office had tested positive & we were waiting on Clay's test results, Sarah was pregnant, Gary and I are older, there were no vaccines, etc. So we had a front porch Christmas gift exchange. I am grateful for the Ainas being willing to load up their girls and gifts and come over so we could see the granddaughters open their gifts. I know we are so spoiled to have our girls so close and so willing to share holidays with us.
When we first married, we lived in Crete, Greece. We couldn't see family for the holidays. We often opened our home and shared meals with other military families. During our 42 years of marriage, I think we have been to Indiana (where our parents lived) for only about 5 Christmases. For our girls growing up as military dependent children, we were often overseas for holidays. We figured out how to make our holidays work every time we moved. Family traditions were important to establish. Christmas is very different in Greece, Texas, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, and Maryland. Every place we have lived, we tried to find something familiar and something unique to how holidays were celebrated. We've taken bits and pieces of each place and then incorporated it into our family holiday celebrations.
Our holidays will continue to evolve as the grandchildren get older.
There were lots of presents under the tree. We didn't remember to keep our gifts to one another out, so we didn't open gifts on Christmas day.
Our traditional Christmas breakfast. My mom's Crumb Top Coffeecake. We had this every Christmas morning when I was growing up and I have continued the tradition. I make it with gluten free flour now so Gary can also have some.
We also have breakfast casserole with hash browns, sausage, cheese, and eggs.
Liz, Clay, and Izzy joined us for Christmas brunch.
In the late afternoon, we went over to the Ainas to see what the kids got for Christmas. They were excited to see us and show us their gifts. The weather was nice and the girls were having fun playing outside.
Abby taking a break from playing outside.
Isla wanted me to take pictures with her gifts
She loves all her presents and loves showing them off
It is so fun to see her excitement
Ezra wants to be a big boy. He can pull himself up and stand now. Not quite ready to walk yet, but it won't be long.
Such a sweet boy and so happy.
Gary and I have started Watching Wheel of Time. He has read the whole series and I have not, so he explains parts to me that I don't understand.
