Christmas Highlights--Part 2

Right before Christmas my mom and I (with a guest appearance by Tom), made some Christmas treats. This is something I did with my parents while growing up so it was fun to revive our candy making tradition! 

Christmas Highlights--Part 3

We had a great Christmas with still more Christmas celebrations to come! Tom's family will be in town this weekend so we have managed to spread out the Christmas cheer a little longer this year. Here are some highlights from our time together as our small family of three and with my (Bonnie's) side of the  family. 

Our first stop happened right before Christmas with a visit Everett's Great-Grandma Johnson.

This picture below was not posed! E loved sitting on top of the presents by the tree.  He didn't hurt the gifts or rip them so we decided just to let him enjoy climbing by the tree.  

We attended Christmas Eve services at our church so we were able to get gussied up.

It was the night before Christmas and Everett was playing with his nativity (as it should be).  Notice that all of the wise men/Mary are crammed in the manger while Jesus is on top.  Love it! 

Enjoying his favorite spot by the tree one last time before bed.

Christmas morning!!! We wanted him to wear his cute PJ's (as seen above) to open gifts, but alas, he woke up with damp PJ's (this kid knows how wet a diaper in the night--dang!).

Tom and I have discussed on numerous occasions what Christmas morning should look like because we grew up with different traditions.  I (Bonnie) grew up instantly running to the tree and opening presents right away. Tom's family would make a big breakfast, clean up the kitchen, and then open gifts.  I admire the Meyer present patience but I wasn't so sure that's what we should do with E.  However, bubs woke up hungry and asked "please" (which is really just a "zzzzzz" sound) repeatedly to go in his highchair.  As a result, we devoured some pancakes before we tore into the gifts.  You win this year Tom Meyer!

I have a Camel Back water bottle that E loves.  For his stocking, I got him a mini version of what I have and his face lit up!  It's the small pleasures in life...

The tree pre-gift opening: 

Jesus received three gifts so we gave each other three gifts.  Everett got some reading material (see below), a stuffed animal/pillow for lounging around (which never happens), and a "cozy coupe" car.

On days when the weather is nice, E's daycare plays outside in the afternoons and without fail every time we pick him up from outside he is sitting in a car like this at Ms. Patti's.  Needless to say, this gift was a huge success.  He loves it! 

After our family Christmas we headed over to Granny and Gramps' house.  

This is a small part of a nativity set that was hand painted by my grandma.  It is one of my all time favorite Christmas decorations. 

We were all blessed with gifts from my family and a great meal from my parents.  Christmas really is such a special time of year.  I'm glad we are prolonging the season just a bit more as we celebrate with the Meyer's! 

Papa

Today I spent my morning helping my dad and uncle pack up my grandpa's life sized nativity scene. While growing up, my brother and I were tasked with the important job of helping Papa set up the nativity scene outside of his house.  Papa loved Christmas and would have legendary Christmas displays inside and outside his house.  I remember being inside his house on any night before Christmas and I would see streams of cars driving by to look at his decorations, which included but was not limited to a giant star nailed to the top of the house with lights streaming down to the nativity, an amish buggy, and a historic sleigh. (You can read more about this on my brother's blog--just scroll to the "Merry Christmas" post.)

(Notice in the picture above I had the honored job of carrying baby Jesus!)

This year my parents had a the great idea to put up his life sized nativity set outside of his room at his assisted living facility. The day after Thanksgiving my family got together and surprised Papa by putting up his display.  It was the greatest gift anyone could have given him this Christmas season. Then every night for the past few weeks the residents at his facility would walk/stroll past his room to see his display (just like old times in his neighborhood).  

Here you can see Papa in a Santa hat looking out his window with my mom and cousin. 

Then literally just hours after Christmas was officially over he was gone. Unexpectedly. Surprisingly. Gone. It has been a sad few days since he passed away.  We packed up the nativity at his place for the last time.  Plans and arrangements have been made for Papa and his possessions.  But there is some sense of comfort and hope.  Papa experienced so much joy in gazing at his nativity--the symbol of Jesus and His love for the world.  Now Papa can truly gaze upon the Lord; he has seen Him face to face.  Papa really is in a much better place. 

When my Grammy Jo (Papa's wife) passed away a few years ago I reflected on this verse: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7

This same verse can be applied my grandfather. Up until the very end Papa kept his faith strong, remained humble, and cared deeply for others--especially his family.  He finished a great race.  

The Smartest Man in the World

Before the sun rose this morning heaven gained the [self proclaimed] "smartest man in the world."  My grandpa, referred to as Papa, passed away in his sleep in the middle of the night.  His health had been declining over the years but his passing was quite unexpected to all of us.  Papa loved loved loved Christmas, so there is something beautiful in that he left this world right after celebrating a holiday (and a savior) that he loved so much.  There is so much to say...here is a start: Obituary for Jimmy Robertson.

Christmas Highlights--Part 1

Merry Christmas!

Santa

Let me introduce you to maybe the most depressing mall in the US, Metro North Mall.  Notice that aside from Santa's "North Pole" area it is empty and black.  A new shopping area opened, Zona Rosa, in 2004 so most of the main stores and attractions left this mall for the new place.  Despite the stores vacating, the mall stayed open and is pretty much only good for mall walking, Topsy popcorn, and what we thought would be a quality Santa experience. 

 Despite the limitations of this mall, we heard good things about Santa being there so we went to check it out.  Turns out E was a bit too young for the free train ride, the wait for Santa was over an hour, and the overall vibe was depressing.  This is not how a Santa experience should feel!  So we left (after Tom bought some popcorn).

 Then we headed over to Zona Rosa just in time for Santa there to be on his 45 minute break.  We made the most of it and eventually we were able to head into the "Celebration Station" to see a giant igloo and Santa.

 You can tell I was super pumped for Santa...Everett, not so much. 

 After all of that, this was the final product: 

Totally worth it.  Poor buddy. 

Arkansas

A few weekends ago we packed up the car and headed to NW Arkansas to spend the weekend with the Chastain's.  Lori (Tom's sister), Moses (3 years old), and Aaron (our brother-in-law) were great hosts!  Lori decorated their Christmas tree, we played out in the yard, Mo decorated a ginger bread train, we ate some awesome food, and more than anything we were able to have quality time together.  Now...on Friday night Everett may or may not have cried incessantly from 10:30-2am after we tried unsuccessfully to transfer him from sleeping in his carseat to the pak n' play. Luckily we all rebounded well from the lack of sleep and we had a great time together.

Check out E being a photo bomb in the pic below...way to go buddy!

Some of us took turns napping after having a rough night's sleep (see Tom knocked out in the recliner).

Cousin time!

Thanksgiving

This is a much delayed post but at least I'm getting it in before Christmas!  We had a great time at Thanksgiving hanging out with family.  I think we also had an excellent time getting a five day break from school! In Korea we would only get a half day off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so it was great to have a much a longer break!  It was also great to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families, since we haven't done so the past four years.  

I love these two pictures from T-giving.  This is my Grandma with her grandchildren. 

And this is my grandma with her great and great-great grandchildren.

 What an incredible legacy one woman can have! 

sick bubs

As you can see....

 We have a sick bubs on our hands.  Two days ago he woke up with a fever and we ended up having to take him to the ER that night because his fever went up and he started to breathe rapidly.  At the ER they ran a test and confirmed that he has influenza B.  And just an FYI, E did have a flu shot this year but the doctor said that the flu shots are only 30-40% effective this year.  Yikes.

E is on meds now but he's still in the midst of battling this bug.  A friend of mine (Bonnie here) brought him this stuffed elf as a "get well" present.  Tom fondly named him Dumpling. I remember my Grammy Jo would bring us stuffed animals sometimes when we were sick growing up (it helped she worked at a gift shop), so it's cool that E also got some special love during this round of sickness.

 Being sick also means that Mommy and Daddy bend the rules (see the example below).  Needless to say, E has been resting as much as possible for a toddler his age and he is getting a lot of cuddles.  We hope he gets better soon.  Having a sick kid is such a helpless feeling.

St. Nicholas Day 2012

December 6th was Saint Nicholas Day!  According to Meyer family tradition, if you put your shoes out the night before Saint Nicholas Day they will get filled with an ornament and other surprises in the night.  This year we opted for a Everett friendly ornament that could not be easily destroyed.  Tom is also insistent that each St. Nick ornament gets dated so we can keep track of them through the years.  

As E gets bigger we'll just do candy and an ornament, but since candy isn't a great option for him at this age we decided to get him some new slippers.  

The snowman on the right was E's St. Nicholas ornament from last year.  

He was so intrigued by his new slippers. 

Here is E modeling his new kicks.