We decided not to go home to Utah for the holidays since Ben didn't have enough paid time off in his new job for a sufficient trip. I thought I would be fine, but as Thanksgiving drew closer I started to get homesick. That was remedied by a trip to see Mark and Malinda in Boise, however even after we returned I was starting to get nervous. What if Christmas was a flop? What if it didn't turn out to be everything I wanted it to be?
To combat such thoughts, I took preventative steps.
For example, I put up my decor early. We had no snow for Christmas so Nayeli and I stuck snowflakes on our windows. Well, I stuck them up and she pulled them down.
I made my mom's homemade potpourri and kept it simmering constantly.
We even cut our own Christmas tree this year! Ben's dream come true.
Near our home there are lots of "you-cut" Christmas tree farms but most close at dusk. That's a problem since Ben doesn't get off work until after dark and I have not the muscles, nor the patience, to haul a tree and toddler home. So I had a great idea to go pay for the tree during the day, then Ben and I could go cut and carry it home after he was done with work.
My plan was fool proof, especially since I picked out the perfect tree right by the parking lot on the afternoon when I went to pay. When Ben and I arrived later that night, he sawed down the tree and we carried it over to the car. I calculated it to be small enough to fit inside our CR-V, but I was pretty off. Really off. And we hadn't brought anything to tie it to the top. The solution? Cut off the bottom. Don't tell the tree huggers.
Our cute tree
Although, it would please the tree huggers to know that the tree itself retaliated and rewarded us with hundreds of little spiders in our home. Seriously. The hazards of cutting your own tree.
But back to fun holiday traditions. We made playdough and used Christmas cookie-cutters to make shapes. Nayeli even made up her own signs (ASL) for Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and candy cane.
I also took Nayeli to see Santa at the local library. This is the face she made. Do you think she'll ever forgive me, especially since I can't stop laughing?
The Friday before Christmas I made sugar cookies and we frosted them as a family. It was one of those nights where everyone is grouchy and all the effort doesn't equate to the fun that is had. I might have had a really good cry that night... one of those "Why am I even trying?" cries. But the next morning I felt fine and enjoyed the rest of the break without a single tear.
On Christmas Eve we borrowed some sleds from a friend and drove to Mount Hood. It's the place where all the Portlandians go to ski, sled, etc. We meant to sled in designated areas lower on the mountain but unfortunately there wasn't enough snow. So we rebelled and sledded near the summit.
We may or may not have passed this sign every time we came down the hill.
But by the time we left, there were 20 other people sledding right where we were and no one had told us we couldn't. I think the Mount Hood employees pitied us, knowing there was no snow anywhere else.
Sliding on our bums
Nayeli's favorite part of the snow was eating it. She was like a kid in a candy store. I had some parents give me funny looks as I helped her find some good chunks, but come on people, didn't we all eat snow as kids and turn out fine? I guess you could debate that (ha ha)... but as for me, it's not a battle I'm going to fight with my children.
Monday the 23rd was Ben's first full day off work (he had to work the Saturday before Christmas) so we went swimming as a family at a local indoor pool. Nayeli had a great time and Ben was in his element in the water. We spent the rest of the day lounging and napping.
For dinner that night I cooked a full sized turkey for the first time. It was a holiday gift from Ben's work. I actually think it turned out pretty good.
The only difficult part was that it weighed 20 pounds. It was huge! I had to have Ben help me lift it. Plus, we had soooo much meat left over. Good thing it's freezable.
We decided to start the tradition of eating Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight.
Of course we had to act out the nativity. Nayeli was Mary and Ben was the donkey. I played most of the other parts.
Before she went to bed, we had Nayeli put out a cookie for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer. Ben explained that Santa would come into our house that night and leave presents. I didn't think she would understand, but she got really afraid and ran to me. Even as I put her to bed, she was muttering the words, "Santa, afraid" over and over. Apparently she had a deep rooted fear of Santa that we weren't aware of.
Christmas morning Nayeli awoke at about 8 (we're enjoying the late sleeping while we can, trust me) and we went out to see what Santa had left. As soon as Ben showed her the bite taken from the cookie and carrot she panicked and ran to me, just like the night before. Luckily her fears quickly subsided as we showed her the presents and her stocking filled with toys.
Opening gifts. This year was the year of the dog because Nayeli is obsessed with all things canine.
Notice the pajamas and towel.
We then did Ben's family's traditional Christmas breakfast of breakfast casserole and a berry slush that is delicious.
The aftermath
Ben and Nayeli playing with the blocks and crowns she got for Christmas. She wanted the crowns worn this way and since it was Christmas, she got what she wanted :)
She's at that phase where everything becomes a hat.
Some friends in the ward invited us for Christmas day dinner so we and three other families all gathered for a meal and chatting that night. It was really fun to spend time with other families that do their own thing and the kids had a great time playing together.
So like I said, overall Christmas was a great success. Although we missed our families, it was great to be our own family unit and create our own traditions. We love being together and the time off from Ben's work was just what our family needed.
I love Christmas and appreciate the time I had this year to ponder the Savior's birth. We are so grateful for the gift his life was to this earth and for his tremendous love and example. Because that's what it is really about, isn't it?
Spiders in the house??!! AHHHH!! Cute post Athena. I loved it:)
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