Wednesday, December 25, 2024

All the Festivities 2024

This year has gone so fast.  We definitely made the most of the season.  Things change as the kids grow and especially with Benjamin in Kansas, it felt different, but we did our best to preserve some of the same traditions and make them special for Peter.  Honestly though, it's always Bella that gets the most out of the holidays and I'm so glad she's still around for them because she makes everything more fun.  It won't be the same when she leaves.

The holidays always start with the holiday concerts. Given that my kids play saxophone, and not flute, I usually can't see them at all during the concert, but I at least catch glimpses of them when they're walking on or off stage, or happen to have a solo that they didn't even mention to me!!  I thought she did so well!




Christian's conductor asked all the kids to gather for a group photo after the concert.  What a big group of awesome musicians!



After the plushy, warm, comfortable indoor concert, comes the freezing cold outdoor holiday parade.  The kids have played in the worst of weather and it's been quite miserable some years.  However, this year it was an amazing 50 degrees and absolutely perfect.  Peter and I had a great time.  Just missed seeing Benjamin at the head of the Churchill drumline.  Not sure if that'll ever get easier.


If you can pick Bella out in this photo, you're doing better than I am.  I'm a terrible parent - I have no idea where she is in this huge group of perfectly matching saxophone players, but don't they all look good?!  I put an arrow on my best guess.


There's a group of guys in Livonia that love to dress up as the Ghostbusters, complete with jumpsuit and proton pack, every Halloween and drive their awesome ghost buster mobile around town.  But why stop at Halloween?  They have managed to make it all the way to Christmas too.  Each year they walk the parade, spraying everyone from their proton packs along with a giant stay-puff marshmallow man.  It's a blast - unless you get sprayed!  We were absolutely covered.



After listening to the amazing high school musicians, we had to hear some more - this time the professionals.  We continued our tradition of attending the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's holiday concert. It was fantastic as usual.  Santa was there again too, this time without Mrs. Claus and looking kind of bored in his big throne, unlike in past years where he laughed and joked with folks while standing by the bar.  We still managed to get a picture with him, though - it's tradition!!  Photo credit - Christian.







That same night, Bella and I went to see her friend Madison perform as the snow queen in The Nutcracker.  She was wonderful.  The lighting in the theater made for terrible photos, but everyone was all smiles after that beautiful performance.  So fun that these two are still friends since they met as 3 year olds in preschool!


That weekend we had a blast making and decorating sugar cookies.  I'm a professional cookie decorator - in my head - and I've had to come to terms with the fact that reality never matches my mental image and my aspirations will never be profitable.  Bella, on the other hand, as actual skills.  When combined with my skills at creating delectable homemade buttercream frosting, the picture perfect icing, and all the fancy piping bags and tips and colors I've purchased while nursing my dream of professionally decorating cookies, the results are spectacular.  Blast some Christmas music while doing it, and really, you don't get a better afternoon.


Christian wasn't feeling it.  He was much more interested in the football game.  He did join in for a couple, though, and he stayed in the kitchen to watch the game so he was still with us the whole time.  That was really nice.



So much fun and it wasn't even Christmas yet!  Christmas eve we invited my mom and Thea over and had spoiled ham for dinner.  Not the plan, just the unfortunate fact.  I will be demanding my money back.  Costco did me dirty, as my kids would say.  

Aside from the unfortunate ham, the rest of the dinner was amazing and the rest of the evening too.  We shared our feelings about Jesus Christ and how we've experienced Him in our lives this year.  We read Luke 2 and Matthew 2 while Christian did an impromptu one-man play of it - that was so cute.  We opened 1 present each, and we played some fun group games like Blank Slate.






Christmas morning we got to open presents with Benjamin!  He called and we face timed while he opened his presents from us and then watched us open ours.  It was the best.  Then he sent a picture of himself wearing the tie from my mom and the sweater from me.  Man, I miss that guy, but I'm so happy he's doing well.


Last night I drove Thea home and the news was on - famine amidst civil war in Sudan, war and famine in Palestine and Israel, thousands being killed every week in the war in Ukraine, etc etc.  Then I came home and placed dozens of gifts for my kids on the couch and went to bed warm, safe, healthy, and well fed.  It's crazy. How did I get to be here?

I awoke to a house full of happy people and watched them open countless presents with huge smiles and happy hearts.  My life is amazing and I'm so thankful for it.  I love these people with whom I get to spend every day.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  Merry Christmas!



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