Thanks to the new baby, this was the first year our little family stayed home for Christmas. Usually we rotate holidays between my parents’ in Utah and Brent’s parents in Fresno. But after 10 years of marriage, and four kids, we thought maybe it was time to do our own thing. Fun! However, Christmas at home also means Mom’s in charge – which equals a lot of work. Which normally I wouldn’t mind (I’m a bit of a control freak), but when I’m sleep deprived and totally sick with a vicious cold/cough (that just now, a month later has finally been diagnosed as BAD bronchitis, almost pneumonia)… Let’s just say it was a wee bit exhausting.
Christmas Eve we went to my sister’s house in Escondido. We were hosting my parents for Christmas, so they came too, along with my brother Kenny and his wife Jane who were visiting Cali for the holiday. Not a bad size Cox gathering. We ate our traditional Swedish Christmas Eve dinner, had a cousins’ gift exchange, and acted out the nativity with all the kids dressed in some pretty interesting last minute costumes…
To demonstrate – Lindsay had multiple roles as a sheep, a shepherd, an angel, and Mary; and as such wore a Mexican poncho, a karate kid headband, and high heels. ???? And instead of Josh playing baby Jesus (he was busy nursing), 15 month old Molly volunteered by wedging herself into the “manger” (Josh’s car seat) and wildly rocking herself back and forth. Luke wins most creative – as a wise man he wore a Batman cape, slippers, goggles, and a Darth Vader mask – all his own idea. Seems a bit blasphemous, but the scriptures were read and I promise it was all done with a sweet spirit and good intentions. And this nativity play, more than anything, I wish I would’ve gotten some pictures of. I was just so tired and busy this year that I basically failed to document anything. My bad.
Next to do: Jake, Danny, Lindsay, and Josh opened some new jammies, piled in the swagger wagon, and we all headed back to Temecula where the kids got to sleep and Mr. and Mrs. Claus got to slave away till 1:30 in the morning. Only to be woken up before 7. Which on Christmas wouldn’t have been so bad, but did I mention I have a new baby? Yeah, you get the picture. And since Christmas fell on a Sunday, the whole family had to be dressed and ready for church by 10ish. Which means we managed stockings, a big Christmas breakfast, and NO presents until AFTER church. Somehow my children did not open one present until after 1 pm. UNHEARD of!! And I didn’t get around to reading the annual love letter in my stocking from Brent until 8pm. But church was worth it, the kids did great, and Brent’s letter made me cry (as usual). Everyone loved their gifts, and Lindsay especially was super enthusiastic about opening EVERY present and would yell “Oh Yeah!!” at everything she got. It was such fun. And great to have Grandma and Grandpa Cox there to oooh and aww over everything. Again, ticked I didn’t get one picture with them in it.
Next stop, down the street to Great Grandma Finlayson’s house for delicious Christmas dinner that I didn’t have to cook. Saw lots of Nefs and Finlaysons and had an exciting round two of presents. Thank you Grandma Finlayson for spoiling us and the kids like always. The boys finally scored the Wii (plus games and accessories) they’ve been deprived of for so long and proceeded to play it (upstairs in the bonus room) for about 3 weeks straight. And while normally I would’ve been cursing such a thing (I hate video games) – with a new baby, no school, and being sick and housebound, instead I was thanking Heavenly Father for the invention of Nintendo …profusely. It saved my life.
And after all the fun and food at Grandma’s house, we stumbled back home, where it looked like a bomb went off, read I Believe in Santa Claus, got our jammies back on, and went to bed. Well most of us anyways. I’m pretty sure I was feeding a baby. Makes me tired again just typing it all.
Let’s just say that after moving over the holidays in 2010 and then having a baby over the holidays in 2011, I am REALLY looking forward to what I hope is a comparatively boring and laid back event for 2012. Happy New Year!
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