Christmas 2016

Every year the weeks leading up to Christmas are tough.  Not sure why other than it is hard for kids at school and so they act out.  I was easily offended at work, stressed about buying the right gifts, sad about Joel being alone, Hannah not coming, Mom being alone.  I spent some excellent quality time with Cheist who once again met me where I was and found that neverending peace that passes understanding.  Cliches, but not.  Very very real for me personally.

The Lake Christmas was smaller due to the weather but special as usual.  It was Shari, Sam, larry and Joe of course, and Bonnie, Norman and cj along with Scott and I.  Shari and Jo loved the prints I got and framed for them, of Leah's. Got some. Quality time with Shari that seems so hard to have for whatever reason.  

A couple of days before Christmas, Shari brought Julie down overnight.  Got more quality time with Shari then Julie.  We had the most delicious meal at Longhorns, just Scott and Julie and I.  

Then Christmas Eve, Leah and Dave and baby Emmet came!  It was a small but very special Christmas as it was Emmet's first and maybe the last we will have them here as they want to build their own family traditions.  We had a Mexican meal and enjoyed plying with Emmet and sitting around.  

Christmas morning Leah and I had coffee and gave Emmet his first Clark traditional orange Danish rolls.  He loved them!  

We did the exchange of gifts  and everyone was thrilled with what they received a sw hat they gave.  I always worry then people are so happy.  Emmet loved his sticking stuffers and his first chucks as well as the giraff I got because his elephant didn't come yet.  

I had some sweet times with Emmet, playing and watching him try to crawl (he can scoot/army crawl.). He likes to stand up at the ottoman with little support and crawl up people.  He giggles when he makes eye contact and grabs at earrings.  He tilts his little head to look beyond at something g that interests him.  I got to rock him to sleep three times!  One afternoon, I took him to my room to see of he would nap with me.  He played with my eyelashes with his little fingers for ten minutes.  

Later that day, we did Skype Joel for two hours.  He did ok alone.   Mom didn't end up being alone after all.

Overall,  grist as 2016 was a. Huge success  and I loved it!

Thanksgiving

Such a great week and memories to hold onto!  Scott and I took Friday off work and drove to Denver.  We listened to a good book on tape, Ready Player One, and stopped at qdoba in Colby.  Joel was already at Hannah's apartment when we got there.  Kent was out of town.

We went out to eat at a lovely Chinese restaurant then went to the Gothic theater to see Seu Jorge, who does David Bowie music acoustically in Portuguese.  We all enjoyed it immensely.

We got up Saturday morning and ate sweet treats  and drank coffee then went for a long walk down Hannah's street to a park.  Scott and the kids had a snowball throwing contest.  There was now on the ground but it wasn't too cold.

We left Saturday afternoon  and drove back to Manhattan bringing Joel.  On Sunday, Scott and Joel and I walked the konza as is our tradition then the boys went to the kstate basketball game.

I worked on Monday, inservice day, and we hung out and just relaxed with our Joel.  I tried to make him homecooked meals every night.  

Leah and David and Emmet arrived Wednesday afternoon.  Leah had warned me that he is going through the stranger stage and not to take it personally if he didn't warm up quickly but he gave me four sweet mushy kisses in the first hour!  Hannah and Kent got here Wednesday night.

Thursday morning we got up and had breakfast and coffee and started cooking. Mom, Dave, and Lisa arrived and then Alexis, Jeff, and Jake!  

I kept dinner simple, the only new thing I made was Carmel Apple sangria.  Emmet got to eat his first table food!  Scott put the tv in the livingroom and we had Gilmore Girls in the new room and played with Emmet.  He's sitting up and still squeals spontaneously.  Every time the theme song came on, he turned to watch the tv.  Leah said she sings it to calm him down and it works!

 After everyone but us Clark/Gaeddert left, we all sat in the livingroom and had a really great conversation, coming up with deep questions to ask each other.  When Leah and David and Emmet left, everyone spontaneously sang "where you lead, I will follow, anywhere, that you want me to....."  

Friday julie came and also Larry and Jo.  

Saturday Joel, Kent, and Scott went to the kstate football game. Hannah and I hung out then went with friends. I got sad then when they came back and were packing, I cried.  Hannah may be able to come home for New Years but not Christmas. And Joel can't take the time off either.  I love having my babies home.