We have had a wonderful holiday. A few weeks before Christmas we went to my cousin Lorie's house to decorate her tree, and found out that in rural Kentucky, the local fire department brings Santa to the neighborhoods to give out presents to all the kids. We just happened to be there at the right time on the right day. We heard the sirens, Lorie sent the girls out, and the truck stopped in front of her house so the girls could see Santa and get a gift. They received paper bags with fruit and candy. It was amazing. Ali was absolutely enchanted.
This year Ali was Mary in the Christmas pagent. Caden, a friend from Vacation Bible School who is not normally in church was Joseph (I sent his mom a message asking if he could be in it, it turned out wonderfully) and his baby sister Chasedyn was Jesus. Ali sang a solo, with Sarah Beth, Lorie's daughter accompyning her on paino. She sang "Come Little Children" quite beautifully; I am so proud of her.
After the pagent on Christmas Eve we headed to Lorie's house. This is the second year in a row we have spent it with her, and I can't imagine a better way here in Kentucky to spend it. Alison and Sarah are both only children, so they LOVE having another child around on Christmas morning to open presents with and play with. The funniest thing is every time I went upstairs to Sarah's room on Christmas day or the day after, they girls were at seperate ends of the room doing seperate things. They are very independent, but just love being able to say "Hey! Look at this!" and have someone there to run over. Lorie and her husband David are amazing hosts; I had a wonderful time stuffing stockings, then unstuffing them the next morning. We had crock-pot french toast for breakfast, a wonderful turkey dinner, tea, coffee, snacks, a wild game of Clue, many many games of Bingo and before we left Sunday night Lorie treated up to the one and only southern dish Hot Browns. Although we could have stayed longer, and I know Lorie would have loved to have had us longer, I really wanted to go while Ali and Sarah were still having a great time, before they got tired of one-another. It worked magically.
This Christmas we were able to take advantage of Skype. While opening presents we were able to see and talk to my Papa, then my sister, her husband my nieces and my Dad, then finally my Mom, Step-dad, sister, Nana and my nephew. It was wonderful.
I was fortunate to have toda off as well. I was able to clean the house (quite needed) and relax with Ali. I am back to work tomorrow for a short week, T-TH, then another long weekend. I don't know what I'll do when I have to work a full week again.
Merry Christmas.
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