OK, I could not close out 2009 without a recap of our family Christmas gatherings and a few favorite Christmas pictures posted. It has actually been one year since I started this blogging adventure and my plan is to have a printed copy of all the posts in one book as a sort of scrap-book or family photo album. And, since I am definitely not the scrap booking type, and in this digital film age where all our family photos seem to stay put away in my computer an actual physical copy will be a very cool keepsake.
Now back to our Christmas season. Our first gathering took place on Saturday, December 5th with my Mom’s (Mimi) side of the family. This was actually the first year we all celebrated together so early. For as long as I can remember, every Christmas Eve has been spent at my Grandma Margie’s church enjoying a beautiful candlelight service and then off to her cozy home for a traditional Dutch dinner, stockings, and lots of presents. Well, Grandma Margie’s house seems to be getting smaller and smaller each year as the extended family grows larger and larger (thanks on my behalf for adding three kiddos to the mix). Plus, Grandma Margie is now Great Grandma Margie and she admits the gathering is getting to be a lot of work for her. So time for a change of plans– bitter-sweet for me. The family will now get together every first Saturday of December for an early dinner (again thanks to all the little kiddos with an early bedtime) and cookie decorating. No more stockings and gifts galore but a group donation to a charity of our choosing. But Grandma Margie did not fail to pass out her favorite gift, Suchkaldah. Thank goodness, I do not know what I would do without this delicious chocolate treat (perhaps one day I will blog more on this Dutch delicacy, it truly deserves a post all its own). The early December gathering I will admit was perfect for all the little cousins and much more relaxing for the Mommas. Great Grandma Margie enjoyed relaxing in a chair and watching all her great-grandchildren play.


Family Gathering # 2 was at my parent’s home with the Jenkins/Mac families on Saturday, December 19th. First, a yummy Christmas breakfast was served. Next a reading of the Christmas story from Luke for all to do their best to sit and listen to. And, finally after much anticipation from the kiddos it was time to open the presents. Ian’s big gift was a yellow and black bike. He received a bike last year which he now literally looks like a giant riding on it. He loved his new “dirt bike” and has rode it everyday since and may even be ready to take the training wheels off soon. Haley got an awesome outdoor “tether ball” game. Watch out CCS playground here she comes. The cousins exchanged books in lieu of big gifts and bought gift cards for local foster children instead. We did our best to start involving the kiddos in giving this Christmas season. Haley was actually very mature about it and seemed to grasp how much we truly do have. The family time together was casual and relaxed with lots laughs and play time for the cousins. Thanks, Mimi and Grandpa for a great Christmas gathering!

For the first time, the Mac family attended Calvary’s Christmas Eve service. We began the evening with dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants, Roma D’ Italia–we had the place to ourselves which was great. The next hour and half spent in church was a little difficult to say the least. What was I thinking taking a one-year old, four-year old, and six-year-old to a quiet, peaceful service ending with not one song but two songs sung with lighted candles? I must have threatened my big kiddos a hundred times that Santa would not be bringing gifts in the morning if they could not sit still and behave–sort of worked (I know I am bad). The service ended abruptly when hot candle waxed tripped on two of the kiddos followed by loud crying and one lit candle rolling down the aisle. Luckily, the church is still standing–ha! Back at home we set out a plate of cookies for Santa and nine carrots for his reindeer (all eight in addition to Rudolph). Finally it was a silent night, and Mom & Dad watched Tim’s all time favorite Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Christmas Day 2009 will be remembered as one of my favorites. Last year I was too sleep deprived to remember anything with little Elize being only a couple of months old. This year for starters, I was way better rested–ahhh! We spent Christmas morning in our pyjamas around the tree. It was great doing our own pace of opening stockings and gifts with lots of breaks for the kiddos to play with their new stuff. Best gift for each kiddo: Haley – Singer sewing machine. Ian – NASA space DVDs (FYI, Ian can tell you the first man in space, first man to orbit the earth, first man to walk on the moon, and many more incredibly interesting space facts). Elize – mini shopping cart to push around (there go my walls). Christmas breakfast included one favorite breakfast item of each of my kiddos and Tim. It was a smorgasboard of coffee cake, sausage, eggs, bacon, OJ, hot apple cider and coffee lattes–good old simple breakfast picks. Christmas morning delightfully dragged on and on with naps, more presents, more food, and TV time watching the NASA movies. Christmas dinner was spent over at Mimi and Grandpa’s with the cousins. Again, the time felt very relaxed and easy paced. The cousins opened up stockings with new pyjamas which they all put on and snuggled up in for a movie. Overall, Christmas 2009 was filled with lots of family gatherings that were enjoyable and memorable for all!


