This year we went to Nana's house the day after Christmas instead of Christmas night. I really liked it this way because Nana and Papa Fred came to our house Christmas Eve to spend the night. We went to the traditional Christmas Eve service at Triangle Presbyterian in Durham which was excellent. Then came home to a fabulous meal cooked by myself with huge help from my husband Andy and my mom. I honestly couldn't have done it without them.
Christmas day we enjoyed opening gifts and then had a nice big breakfast. Before Papa and Nana left we all went outside on to watch Reagan ride her new bicycle. She was so proud of herself pushing the pedals and doing so well.
Then we had the rest of the day to enjoy together cleaning up and packing to head to Nana's. The next morning we headed to Salisbury. Salisbury is where I grew up spending my Christmas Eve's and mornings. It has taken awhile to settle in to my new traditions with my own family, but this year I really felt like I had found them. It was nice to spend time with my mom and enjoy her traditional meals that I don't get to eat that often. Plus the four grandchildren love spending time with their Nana. Reagan loves following Nana around and just "helping" her with whatever she is doing.
After lunch, we opened gifts. Nana had given Reagan a Barbie and Savannah a Tinkerbell doll. Reagan had said that she wanted a Barbie after watching the endless TV commericals over the holidays. However, when she saw Savannah's Tinkerbell it was a huge disappointment to her that she didn't get one. So next year we all know to get them the same thing! My mom gave me a quilt made up of all my old high school and college t-shirts. I love it as it is something that reminds me of so many great things in my past but also functional. If you know me you know I like things to have a purpose. The quilt is beautiful and was made exceptionally well. I will cherish it for many years to come!
Around 4:00pm my mom's brother and sister came with their families. I don't see my cousins too often nor their children so this is very special to see everyone all at the same time. It's so much harder that both grandparents are gone to get everyone together. I have three cousins from my mom's brother. They have five children between them. So we ended up with nine by the end of the night which made it feel even more like Christmas to me. I love that my mom finds that it is important to have our family get together and that she really cherishes our time together. She puts so much effort into the house, decorations, food, and making sure everyone is invited and welcomed. If it wasn't for her I know that we would not see everyone and keep our grandparents family together. Thanks to my mom for being so great and really working hard to give us great family time.
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