These last few days were the exactly what we needed. We needed time to sit in stillness, snuggle up to movies, enjoy holiday festivities as much as possible (even if with masks), and have uninterrupted time with our loved ones. Every year, I reflect back and say we need more down time during the holidays to enjoy it. While Covid has been anything BUT a blessing in our lives, there is one positive that it has forced us to examine more closely where we go and hunker down more at home for the festivities. Christmas Eve started with sleeping in (yay for Mommy & Daddy) followed by playing games and opening one gift. Caelin loved her popsicle skateboard and Cade got his Lego Mandalorian set that he had been wanting. In the afternoon, we got getting dressed up for church with Gamee and Grampee. It was unique to not have a church full of people and we wore our masks, but just to be in God's house and worshiping him makes the heart feel good. After service, the Hall's all gathered at our house for family dinner. Daddy smoked a pork butt for 18 hrs and we had pulled pork sliders with all the fixings. Gamee also brought the kids snow globe cookies to make before Daddy read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as is tradition in the Hall family on Christmas Eve. Growing up, Charles always listened on as Mumps would read the book, so this was one tradition we wanted to carry on with our family. Just before snuggling up in beds for the night getting ready for Santa, we sprinkled the reindeer food on the lawn. The kids took FOREVER to fall asleep with excitement for the next day. On Christmas day, Caelin was up around 7:30am and we finally woke Cade up at 8:30am to come see what Santa had brought. Santa must have thought they were very good! Caelin got a mini fridge & LED rope lights for her room and folding headphones (Her wants), the Wings of Fire box set (something to read), an LED Alarm clock (something she needs), and lots of stocking stuffers. Cade got his Nerf Pharoah Blaster gun, folding headphones and PS4 game Spiderman Miles Morales (his wants), Time Travelers box set by Ted Decker (something to read), and Underwear/socks/poopouri (stuff he needs), and lots of stocking stuffers as well. We were able to relax enjoying the moment with breakfast tacos before we headed over to Gamee and Grampee's house. Gamee and Grampee started the festivities with pop questions for everyone to answer about Jesus. Questions such as "If you were to get Jesus a present what would it be?", "What kind of pet would Jesus have?", and "Where would you take Jesus on vacation?" It was fun to hear everyone's answers and be reminded that Jesus was a kid at one time like everyone else. The gift opening made us all smile as we watched everyone open gifts one at a time and the smiles on faces as people saw surprises. The kids were WAY SPOILED by Gamee and Grampee as always and loved tearing into gifts. My favorite gift was a wooden planter box that Grampee made with his wood working skills. Charles also got a gift to remember always as they made a bench out of parts of his baby bed! It was so thoughtful and unique. I cannot wait to find the perfect spot for it! Lunch was brisket (Daddy smoked this one for 9 hours), rolls, fruit salad, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, and Gamee's famous cheese grits. We even had cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus for dessert! Before ending the evening, we all played a few rounds of the game Sequence. I could not have imagined a better way to spend Christmas than celebrating with family. We are so very blessed to be surrounded by love and creating memories like these. I pray the moments of every Christmas linger with us always as I know I cherish the memories I had growing up.
For me growing up, I remember the magic of the season. Of course I love Santa, but my most fondest memories were the family gatherings at each Grandma's house. Each year, we would leave after school got out and drive (we had a Suburban) 6 hours to Lubbock, TX for about 1.5 weeks. The drive was long, but Daddy would make us a pallet with the seats down and we would lay on an egg carton in the back to play games or color during the drive (yes...before seatbelts were a law). When we arrived in town, Grandma Watts was always waiting on her front porch on 35th street. There is no telling how long she had been waiting there for us. We would jump out and run squealing to her arms before the car even shut off. She had the very best hugs! Christmas Eve was always a fancy celebration at the Parks tree and Grandma Parks would go all out on the meal, candlelight, china plates, all the fixings, fancy drinks, etc. She even had a separate table in the dining room for just desserts! She would wear her Christmas apron all day cooking while Grandpa just wiggled his ears to make us giggle while wearing his Dickie coveralls. Grandma Parks always wore sparkly looking Christmas attire with dress pants, and sparkling earrings. She reminded me of one of those women that never age, had perfectly placed hair, and was elegant in all she did. Of course, Daddy's 2 Brothers (Uncle Clayton & Uncle Don) and families would be there, but we also had Aunt June & Twins Uncle Jack/John (Grandma's lively and funny siblings that lived in town or down the street in Papalote Esates), Daddy's cousin Harry, and more. I can easily recall 25 or more people there every year. The gift opening was massive and took what seemed like hours for everyone to open everything so the cousins could go to the basement to play with our new toys. The house was filled with laughter and smells of cinnamon. Christmas Day was always the big day at Grandma Watt's. We opened gifts on Christmas Eve like the Parks tree, but on Christmas day you could count on something great to eat from Grandma Watts "Gangaw". Gangaw was one of those rare cooks that never followed a recipe and it always tasted good. My favorite meal was when she would make pot roast and her famous mashed potatoes. She would sometimes wear an apron if she had a fancier collared shirt on, but most of my memories are of her in her jeans, casual loafers, and some sort of sweatshirt. Her favorite gifts to receive were boxes of Queen Anne's chocolate covered cherries, Jack Daniels (Black label only), and the Farmer's Almanac that Mendy would get her annually. Her Christmas tree was a small one that set on an end table and usually had tinsel. My favorite tradition after the meal and gifts was the music. Grandma would grab her fiddle, guitar, harmonica, banjo, piano, spoons, or any of the many other instruments she could play and Aunt Bubs and Mom would sing along to old country classics. The usual was Grandma playing the Guitar and harmonica (yes at the same time), Aunt Bubs on the Piano, and everyone singing along with the kids playing the spoons. My cousin Jason was always the best spoon player and my partner in crime. My favorite instrument to watch Grandma play was the fiddle. She was a beautiful fiddler! After the music, the cousins would run off to play with our toys. Such fond memories and they flood me with tears and smiles as they sometimes feel like present day if I close my eyes. I pray that as parents, we are creating memories so strong in our children that these family memories are what they think of first when they "feel" the Christmas spirit and the awe of our savior. Merry Christmas to all and to all a GREAT night!
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