Merry Christmas EVE

When I was little I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but my grandparents house on Christmas Eve.  A zillion Christmas presents under the tree because well there was a LOT of kids.  A warm home cooked meal -  mostly made my Grandma.  Cookies and pies and pies and candies. And a lot of singing!  

It took me many years to get used to not doing that same tradition after I got married.  Today we are a far ways in years and miles from that tradition and even the newer tradition I have made with Mike’s family on Christmas Eve in Salem.  And the kids have noticed that although the calendar says December 24th it doesn’t quite feel like being at Grandmas house.

Right now we are ice skating with friends from home though-  Henry’s school teacher in fact.  Judy and Dave Ryan grew up in McCall and have lived in McMinnville for years but they come back to be with their family every Christmas so it’s fun that our paths cross today.

We will go grocery shopping so that I can make a big meal tomorrow at the cabin and out for burgers tonight at a restaurant!  We plan to watch a favorite holiday movie-  Eloise’s Christmas at the Plaza and frost cookies we made earlier today!

Different than usual but still blessed and beyond FUN!  Next year we will surely be back to our normal family traditions that we DO love but I believe my kids will remember this one forever.  As special.  I know I sure will!  

Minor disruptions in paradise

I can’t complain-  back home friends and family alike are working, exercising, cleaning, shopping and entertaining probably.  Not us.

Mike did have to spend the morning on the phone for work and I just took Daphne to the doctor here.  Maisie, Daphne Henry and I have these icky colds.  But daphne is the worst so she urged me to take her in and I’m glad I did.  They gave me some great ideas that will help us all.  Hot water is going to steam our sinuses and soup is going to hydrate our bodies and more rest rest rest which we are in the best place to make that happen!

Picking up some more food and cough meds in town! Hitting up the Albertson’s WiFi and putting some pictures into blog world for eternity!

Entertaining a childhood friend and her husband tonight too.  I have gingerbread cookies to roll out and cut into moose shapes and maybe I’ll put on makeup today too!

Loving this time so much.  I know soon enough we will be back to the grind so I’m honestly enjoying every second -  sniffly or not! 

Even the doctors office is mountain shic!  

7 more inches!

On day three we awoke to our first fresh substantial snow fall-  about 7 inches.  Enough to make us all giddy!!

Most of us are still battling a bad cold that settled in during the crazy Shrek fun of late LaTe nights and the go go go of the holiday season soooo we decided to stay in the cabin most of the day!

Well Mais and Mike ran some errands and Mike pulled the kids behind Sparky for some adventurous sledding/skiing.  But not me— read and nap, read and watch a movie and ended the day with pioneer woman’s chili and yep a couple more movies-  what about Bob and MIB to be exact.

Henry now has a new word that he cannot wait to use when he grows up-  apparently bullshit was one will smith liked to throw out!

I’m behind on my posts because we have no WiFi and I cant push publish til I leave and get 4 bars somewhere-  I know, so primitive!

Enjoying ending 2017 in this fashion and hoping it gives me the push to meet some lofty goals in early 2018!

Literally a DREAM vacation

Years and years ago when Mike and Pam bought this place I dreamt of us all doing a Christmas in McCall.  But we just never could make it happen-  there was fears of not having the right vehicle to actually GET here in the winter, the kids were too little for such a treck if it was dicey, I didn’t want to leave my parents at this time of year especially when they were sick.  So we waited and waited.

And then this year it was just RIGHT and it worked out that we came just US.  Not only for Christmas but for 2 weeks.  December 17 through December 31!!!!!

I’m pinching myself everyday because it’s snowy and magical and cozy and the children are actually old enough that I’m relaxing.  A LOT.  Yesterday I took an hour long bath....I didn’t have to sled the whole time when I got tired and cold, lots of reading my book and playing a game on my phone, and the girls are even taking turns cooking!

Here’s the last two days in pictures!

Gratitude Journal

My friend Julie and I are attempting gratitude journals.  Originally I thought I'd do it on a tablet on fridge but I think I'll snap pics during the day and try to blog everyday! 

I mean it's been awhile since I was consistent here and really this is more worthwhile (at least most of the time) than social media.

I would have loved if my mom had made a gratitude journal when jon, les and I were growing up-  that's even better than pictures I think!  So hopefully the kids can come here sometime and see I did at least attempt positivity and joy in my life.

I mean the object is to replace stress, anxiety and frustration with thanksgiving right?!

So here's five of my blessings today/ yesterday:

What I'm doing RIGHT now.... sitting with a cup of coffee after a busy long day so far and watching an episode of Friends all by myself!  This is my first year of having the kids at school all day and it's been so good to have more time for all things under the sun! 

Maisie going on a trip to Hawaii with Pam and Phoebe... and all the treasures I just bought her for her trip!  I'm so thankful we can afford to get her these sorts of things!

 

Sweaty workouts ... feels so good again!

My friend's  new healthy baby girl!!

 

Henry -  playing hide and seek with him last night and how goofy he is!!

 

Yes he thought he could hide there and be invisible.

I am blessed.

McCall Day 2

    So far today the kids made pancakes with mini candy bars crushed up in them....exciting experience with an almost total eclipse at our beach....LOTS of beach time...swim swim swim jump!

The kids are taking turns driving all the fun vehicles here and I taught ms Paivi Jayne solitaire-  she's hooked!

We had stroganoff for dinner and intend to have a lazy evening of movies, magazines and games!

Settling into vacation mode really fast!!!!!!!

Pats on backs

Last 10 years haven't been easy on our marriage-  I'll admit that.

Today I started a new book and in the first pages I was mesmerized by a quote....this particular mother had kept secrets of her early life from her kids and with death facing her she said:

"I thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired.  Now I think perhaps I'd like to be known."

Ha.  My kids knowwwwww me.  Maybe too well.  My husband too.   No secrets. 

The kids know even when mike and I aren't getting along so well.  But we are sure to say we aren't giving up on US! 

And the last 10 years stretched US a little too much.  A little too thin ... and yet when I looked back I saw so much LOVE between that guy and I .