It's funny how we have the way an event will take place already in mind and when it doesn't turn out to be anything like what you planned, you realize what you plan isn't always the best scenario! What a crazy Holiday season this year! We were planning on having a very small and quiet Christmas this year. It turned out to be anything but. I was almost looking forward to just having my small little family together. I imagined the kids waking up and spending all morning with just the four (soon to be five) of us enjoying each other. Like I said, everything changed, but I think it was for the better.
About 2 weeks before Christmas, my Aunt went into the ER after a doctor suggest that she go because of a large lump in her stomach. About a week later a doctor told her she was in stage 4 ovarian cancer. After seeing the oncologist, they decided to do surgery to remove 2 tumors and to see the significance of the cancer. Although my aunt and most of my dad's family is in Amarillo, she moved to Austin about 6 years ago. So really, me and my sisters are her only family here. We were all (and still are) very scared for Sheila and her daughter Shandy (age 10) and so my cousin and Sheila's oldest daughter, Shelby, my Aunt Vicki, my Mama Lou, my Dad and his wife, Tammy all came down for Sheila's surgery.
So with all these people in town, Matt and I quickly realized our premeditated plan of a quiet, little Christmas was not going to be small anymore and definitely not quiet. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better Christmas though.
For Christmas Eve, we went to Ginger and Paul's new and beautiful home. They insisted on us not bringing anything and treated us all to La Margarita Fajitas that were fabulous! Their home felt so good to be in. It might be a cliche, but the spirit of Christmas truly was in that home. My mom and Grandma came up with us. After opening presents, the kids put on the traditional Kruzie Nativity play as Papa read out loud from the scriptures. Tyler hated every minute of it, but Lexi got to be the angel, so she was ecstatic! She put on one of Taylor's shirts and wore it as a dress. She really felt beautiful in it. It was pretty fun watching all of them.
Michelle came up with the idea to do a white elephant gift exchange. I was not into the idea with all the emotional things going on, so I guess you could say I didn't have the best attitude about it. But then when we started, I quickly realized it would be one of the highlights of the night and probably will be a tradition that sticks. Hopefully, we'll do better next year. This year, we made it home with an Enema.
Christmas morning, Lexi and Tyler slept late from the exhaustion of the night before. I quickly went to work in the kitchen preparing a Christmas Brunch for all of our family. Everything tasted wonderful, especially Mama Lou's famous monkey bread. Lexi and Tyler soon woke up, probably due to my banging in the kitchen, and were extremely overwhelmed by all the presents. I really meant to do a light Christmas, but next year will be even lighter considering Tyler didn't even care to open his last couple of presents. Everyone started showing up around 11:00 am. Since Matt and I have been married, we have never had that much of my family together. I hadn't seen my sister Whitney for a year and a half. I forgot how sweet and kind she was. It meant so much to have her there. It really completed our family. I also hadn't seen my Dad or Tammy for quite a few months, so we were all excited to have them down.
I wont forget this Christmas and the special spirit I felt. I can't really put my finger on why it was so special. Maybe it was because of Sheila's unfortunate diagnosis or maybe because I had so much family around or maybe because I was 8 1/2 months pregnant and completely hormonal.
Whatever the reason, I'm so grateful to have so many people who love me, love Matt and our kids. There can't be a greater gift then that.
