Give good gifts one to another
by HML
This year’s Christmas celebrations didn’t happen quite as expected, but we made the best of the changes wrought by the weather.
Santa Claus was scheduled to make his traditional pre-Christmas visit the Monday before Christmas, but since the roads were dangerously icy, there was some question whether he would be able to venture out. (I know, the sleigh and reindeer ought to be able to handle winter weather. Work with me, here.) Luckily the Gimletmobile and its 4-wheel drive abilities were able to make the trip to and from the North Pole, plus a much-needed grocery store stop for Mrs. Claus and the elves, too.
Thing One has always enjoyed his Santa visits, but Thing Two isn’t quite ready to let down his guard yet. This year he was cordial but wary, eventually sitting on Santa’s lap, but confined his remarks to one word, regardless of the conversation topic: “Yes.” After Santa made his departure, Thing Two was heard to say, “Santa was a little scary. He was very big.” Unlike many celebrities one might see in person, Santa really is very big (as can be seen in the first photo, where he barely fits under the doorway) but we hope Thing Two will not let that prevent him from making friends with Santa as he gets to know him better. Chinook and Nanaimo were disappointed at not being allowed to meet Santa; after he left they rushed upstairs to inspect his chair.
While the Gimletmobile was able to get around town for work and grocery shopping, conditions were worse for other family members. Between cancelled trains from Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC which left cousins stranded, and steep, slippery hills and deep snow drifts, the decision was made to postpone the traditional Christmas Eve extended family party. Instead, on Christmas Eve we put together a small dinner (not easy, since the grocery stores were running low on several items). The Gimlet brought over the GrandGimlets, Uncle B, and Uncle B’s friend Hillary, we opened a few presents and played games. Santa had left behind a special gift for Grandpa: canned haggis. We’re not sure if that means Grandpa was good or bad this year.
Christmas Day brought yet another snowstorm and a long-distance surprise for the GrandGimlets: Christmas greetings from Norway! (But no lutefisk to go with the haggis.) Grandma was able to tell her cousin (who had no snow in her town) that Seattle was snowed in. Over the next few days the temperatures (finally) rose above freezing and the snow melted enough to make our traditional family party possible on the Sunday after Christmas. (The delay also made it possible for me to finish everybody’s Christmas gifts, an added bonus.) As always, dinner was magnificent (the Christmas crackers were a fun new addition), we had a wonderful time, and we were especially grateful that the family was able to get together. Thing Two had been very disappointed that Christmas was over, so a belated party helped him — and all of us — enjoy Christmas a little longer.
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Tags: christmas
January 6th, 2009 01:45
We also had to have our family celebrations postponed and it actually was nice to lengthen it out a little! Elijah wasn’t as scared of Santa this year (at our ward party) and ended up talking with him a little more than we’d thought