Seizing the Holidays

It started in November with the kids' production at their performing arts co-op…

 

And moved quickly to packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child (I think our troop packed 35)

Packing boxes for OCC

And then Duncan was in a local Christmas parade at the request of a little girl who adores him…

Duncan and his admirer, Zee

There was the nearly 2 hours Christmas program, where I giggled uncontrollably and inappropriately and in which Duncan lip synched to "Silent Night" in German…

Duncan not even pretending to sing at this moment.

 And the Mother/Daughter/Grandmother Christmas Tea, which was as beautiful as ever, even though we did not have a proper coordinator for it this year, so Caroline and I threw it together. It was our last tea as coordinators, and the troop surprised us each with a cabin getaway weekend to use whenever we wish!

Laurel and Mom

Somewhere in the midst of all that, Laurel was in the play "The Mystery at Shady Acres" put on by her drama class at co-op…

And Randy and Duncan went on the Boy Scouts' annual winter camping trip…

One Saturday we took in Christmas in the Smokies, which was not a cheesy Pigeon Forge-type thing but a living history walk through the woods, with reenactors talking about what Christmas-time would have been like in the early 1900s.

"Granny" explaining the medicinal herbs in her basket.

Laurel went to a Christmas dance, two tacky sweater parties, and had a Christmas sleepover, but I only have pictures of the dance…

 

A small group of our AHG troop went caroling at the airport…

Somewhere in all of that, we got our tree at the local tree farm and decorated it…

And Jesse came home from college (straight As!) and yes, he still can't seem to stop reading…

This past week we have had the tremendous joy of Koll Henry visiting from New York (he's my fourth brother's baby)… 

And now we are heading into pure family time, decorating cookies and having the Christmas sing at my second brother's house.

This afternoon is going to be fabulous. For the first time ever, every single one of my parents' offspring (except, of course, our oldest brother James, who never comes to anything ever) will be here at my house. That's 29, from my 87-year-old father to his youngest grandson, Koll Henry, 9 months old. That also includes 5 great-grandchildren, who are all older than Kollman. We are spread out from New York to TN to Texas, so it is quite a feat to have everyone here at the same time. My friend and wonderful photographer, Donna, is coming over to take real family pictures for us.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be relatively quiet, with all the extended family gone.  Besides Christmas, we'll celebrate Duncan's birthday on the 25th and Randy's on the 26th—and then Randy's family will start arriving on the 27th.

I probably should feel overwhelmed with all these goings-on. I don't—well, most of the time. I feel incredibly blessed. Mixed in with all the activities, we've had quiet evenings at home with homemade Chex mix and movies, with candy-cane Hershey's kisses and Scattergories. We've had our house filled with our children and their friends, sitting around in the living room chatting for hours. We've shared food and laughter with new friends and old friends.

And almost every single morning, the love of my life and I sit in the living room drinking our coffee, while our three sleep and the cats and dog frolic. It's a good place to be.