Merry Christmas - 2006

Rocke and I were sick a few weeks before Christmas and were hoping we would feel better by the time Christmas Eve arrived. I was very sick with stomach flu and got a cold on top of the stomach flu. Then Rocke came down with my stomach flu. We were two peas in a pod trying to nurse each other back to health. I was very thankful I had done our Christmas shopping early and already had the house decorated. I'm happy to report that by Christmas Eve, we were feeling better . . . not great, but better.

We were looking forward to hosting our Christmas get-together this year. We slept in until about 9:30 a.m. (not like with little kids around). The first thing we did was, of course, have our own little Christmas before Ross, Ryan and families arrived for Christmas dinner, scheduled for 2:30 p.m.. I was excited to see I had gotten a new Christmas bear with a sign on him saying "I want my mommy!". He was sitting on top of all the gifts waiting for me to find him on Christmas morning. I also got new slippers, a new bath robe, a White Diamond Gift set (with a costume watch), a Diamond Journey Pendant, Christmas candle and holder. Santa also left me a couple of seasons of "24". Rocke got a pair of pajamas, slippers, two seasons of "24" (we have ‘em all now), and two different cold weather hats (that he's wanted forever and never think to buy for himself). With our Christmas done and the trash picked up from unwrapping our gifts, we got ready to prepare dinner for the kids who would be arriving around two.

We put two skillets of roast beef on to cook, and later added some potatoes and carrots. Our grown sons, never seem to get enough to eat. The roasts were cooking and we wouldn't have to intervene for an hour, to add the veggies. We used the time to blow up about a 100 red, white, and green balloons. No, we didn't blow them all up by mouth, we have an air compressor that did the work for us. All we had to do was tie them. We thought the kids would get a kick out of them (and we were right). About the time we finished blowing up the last balloons, Ross, Heather, Austin and Sydney arrived. Sydney and Austin dived right into the balloons. Within a couple of minutes the balloons were throughout the first floor of the house. A half hour or so later, Ryan, Sarah, Zach and Naomi showed up. Zach spent some time diving into the balloons with Austin and Sydney and within a few minutes it was time to dish up dinner. Ross and Heather brought over an apple cobbler and Ryan and Sarah brought a fruit salad.

After dinner, we convened in the family room to open the family Christmas gifts. Everyone had fun opening their gifts. After getting all the wrapping paper and boxes picked up, we enjoyed our dessert.

It was a wonderful Christmas afternoon with the kids, but too soon, it was time for everyone to leave. We already had the majority of the mess cleaned, so we were able to relax and watch some TV before going to bed. In the morning, we would be loading the car and driving out to Depoe Bay to spend seven relaxing days on the Oregon Coast.

Next year, it's someone else's turn for Christmas dinner hosting.