I have been busy celebrating Christmas for the past four days. Add to that a fantastic sinus infection and bam... I am enjoying this snow storm that is currently going on outside my parents' window because it gives me a perfect excuse to stay indoors and be absolutely lazy.
On the first day of Christmas... my son and I stopped at his grandparents' so that he could spend some time with them for the holiday. We had a nice lunch and my son had a nice time opening and playing with the gifts that he received. It is a very difficult day as being at my husband's parents' house without him only emphasizes his absence. I am sure that his parents feel the same way having only the two of us there as well.
On the second day of Christmas... I spent it with my parents, my brother, my sister and her family, and my grandparents. This was the first time that my immediate family held our own Christmas festivities and it was nice. Since it was such a small group, we ate very well... prime rib, shrimp, cheesecake, etc. Although I always look forward to our traditional Christmas cuisine of Polish sausage, pierogies, etc. I have to admit it was nice to have a fancier Christmas dinner.
On the third day of Christmas... I went to my paternal grandmother's house like we always did from the time I was born. However, this was the first time in atleast 7 years that I was able to make it and it was really nice to be there. It's funny how things change and don't change at the same time. In some ways it didn't feel at all like it had been that long since I had last spend Christmas Eve at her house. However, even though the family has expanded, there were less of us there. I have a cousin who now lives in Florida and didn't make it up. My sister's boys were with their father and her step children were with their mother, so no one from her family was there. I did get to see two of my other cousins that I do not get to see all that often and that was really nice. It's amazing how quickly children grow as my cousin's eldest is now driving! Crazy!
On the fourth day of Christmas... it was actually Christmas! This was the first Christmas that my son understood the concept of gifts and Santa. It made it lots of fun! We spent the morning opening gifts and playing with them. Then we had to get ready for the big family party (with my mother's side of the family) at my parents' house, which is where I am staying while home for the holidays. It was great to see everyone... aunts, cousins, kids... but there were many faces missing as well.
I guess that is the thing about the holidays... it is a great time to enjoy with your family and friends, but it also makes it more apparent when everyone gets together to notice the ones that are not there. There are some not with us any longer because they have passed on. But there are others not able to make it due to spending time with in-laws, work, or even living far away. I am thankful for the four days that my son and I got to spend with my family as they do make for some great memories.
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it) and enjoyed the company with whom you were able to spend the holiday with.
On the first day of Christmas... my son and I stopped at his grandparents' so that he could spend some time with them for the holiday. We had a nice lunch and my son had a nice time opening and playing with the gifts that he received. It is a very difficult day as being at my husband's parents' house without him only emphasizes his absence. I am sure that his parents feel the same way having only the two of us there as well.
On the second day of Christmas... I spent it with my parents, my brother, my sister and her family, and my grandparents. This was the first time that my immediate family held our own Christmas festivities and it was nice. Since it was such a small group, we ate very well... prime rib, shrimp, cheesecake, etc. Although I always look forward to our traditional Christmas cuisine of Polish sausage, pierogies, etc. I have to admit it was nice to have a fancier Christmas dinner.
On the third day of Christmas... I went to my paternal grandmother's house like we always did from the time I was born. However, this was the first time in atleast 7 years that I was able to make it and it was really nice to be there. It's funny how things change and don't change at the same time. In some ways it didn't feel at all like it had been that long since I had last spend Christmas Eve at her house. However, even though the family has expanded, there were less of us there. I have a cousin who now lives in Florida and didn't make it up. My sister's boys were with their father and her step children were with their mother, so no one from her family was there. I did get to see two of my other cousins that I do not get to see all that often and that was really nice. It's amazing how quickly children grow as my cousin's eldest is now driving! Crazy!
On the fourth day of Christmas... it was actually Christmas! This was the first Christmas that my son understood the concept of gifts and Santa. It made it lots of fun! We spent the morning opening gifts and playing with them. Then we had to get ready for the big family party (with my mother's side of the family) at my parents' house, which is where I am staying while home for the holidays. It was great to see everyone... aunts, cousins, kids... but there were many faces missing as well.
I guess that is the thing about the holidays... it is a great time to enjoy with your family and friends, but it also makes it more apparent when everyone gets together to notice the ones that are not there. There are some not with us any longer because they have passed on. But there are others not able to make it due to spending time with in-laws, work, or even living far away. I am thankful for the four days that my son and I got to spend with my family as they do make for some great memories.
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas (if you celebrate it) and enjoyed the company with whom you were able to spend the holiday with.
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