One of the biggest highlights of Christmas for us each year is the lazy, carefree feeling once everything is wrapped and ready. Christmas usually kicks off another week or two of celebration and we revel in the fact that we don't know what time it is, or even what day it is. We spend our days doing puzzles, sledding, skating, seeing friends, playing games and just sitting around.
This year, things are way different. Although we still managed to enjoy our Christmas season, we had a million things going through our heads with our upcoming trip. There are so many things to think of when you are traveling as a family of five to Africa, when you know you can't just run out to the nearest WalMart if you forgot something. On top of that, we are trying to fill our suitcases with donations...trying to find the right items for each person, which has required quite a bit of running around.
We did three things this year we've never done - 1) We went to WalMart at nearly one in the morning on December 21st (eerily quiet!) 2) We went to Costco on Christmas Eve at 3:30 pm (busy but no line-ups) and 3) We braved WalMart on Boxing Day in the evening (eerily quiet again!)
Aside from buying last minute things, we did sneak in quite a bit of celebrating...here are a few highlights. I did not do Christmas cards or pictures this year, so from our family to yours - Merry Christmas!!
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| We started puzzling early this year - we finished about 4 puzzles by December 1 but then lost some steam |
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| We had a really nice visit with Arvid's Aunt and Uncle. They have really filled in the role of grandparents on Arvid's side of the family and are very dear to us. |
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| Presents...the girls exchanged a few gifts early. Duct tape was a hit this year! |
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| My favourite service of the year - candlelight. Loved it! |
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| Christmas Eve at my parents'...complete with musical production by the kids |
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| Playing a xylaphone duet |
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| Yes, my dad's lighting candles on the Christmas Tree, following the German tradition. Yes, it was for a very short time and Yes, we had fire extinguishers ready. :-) |
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| So glad to still have my grandma celebrating with us |
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| Christmas morning stockings |
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| Mmmm...Christmas morning breakfast...waffles, bacon, tons of fresh fruit, muffins, yogurt, whipping cream, fresh juice... |
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| Christmas Eve turkey at the Matsons...so fun! |
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| The adults are largely outnumbered! |
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| Family pic - so blessed to have such amazing family on both sides! |
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