Christmas 2011

I'll add pictures later, but I want to get things down before I forget. It has been awesome experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child - Peyton!
Christmas Eve began early - Mom and I made cookies, sweet potatoes, baked beans, etc. for meals the next couple of days. Mark and Tom arrived around noon. Mom, Ron, Mark, Tom and I enjoyed a delicious ham lunch and watched the Chiefs game. Ron and I went to church about 6 p.m. where I played the organ for the service. After church, we went to the Siegers for cake and custard.

Christmas morning I had coffee with Mark and Mom before Ron and I went to church. We brought home the poinsettia we had given to the church in memory of Ron's parents and Daddy and gave it to Mom. She seemed pleased.

The Todds arrived before 11 a.m. Peyton really enjoyed checking out what Santa left in their stockings and opening gifts. The most fun she had was picking up all the wrapping paper and putting it in the trash bag - go figure. Mom, Mark, Joe and Tom arrived around noon to visit before we had lunch - prime rib, which turned out quite well for my first time. We lit the candles on the birthday cake and sang happy birthday to Jesus.

We had a great time opening our presents. Mary couldn't make it to the celebration because she had to work, but she sent some fabulous gifts - a hand-knitted sweater for Garrison and a reindeer hat for Peyton. We received wonderful gifts including fostoria, gift cards, etc. Peyton loved all her fun toys, etc.

Chad, Amanda and Garrison went back to Olathe around 5 p.m., but we were blessed with Peyton staying with us overnight - we'll take her back on Monday in the afternoon. We played with her kitchen set of food, pans, etc. that Mark and Mary gave her (Peyton loves it), then decided to take her to see Christmas lights around town. She wanted Grammaw to go, so we went by to pick up Grammaw for our city tour of lights. Peyton expressed several times she loves candy canes and asked over and over where was Mary?

After we got home, we played some more and had a snack before Peyton's bath. She was disappointed that her Mommy and Daddy had taken home her new fingerpaint soap Mark and Mary gave her for Christmas, but we had fun playing in the bathtub with plain old Grammy foam soap. With no nap today, after we read 2 books, Peyton went to sleep very quickly. We are having such a great time.

The best Christmas yet - we are blessed.

December 2011 Visit to Olathe

We hadn't seen Peyton and Garrison since Thanksgiving weekend, so it was time for a visit! Ron, Grammaw and I headed out from Clinton before 7 a.m. anxious for a fun few hours with the kids. Peyton greeted us at the door - what a joy to see her smiling face so happy to see us. We visited with everyone for an hour or so, then Amanda and Chad decided to take advantage of us being there to stay with the kids while they finished up some Christmas shopping at the mall. Peyton helped Grandpa assemble the new vacuum cleaner for the 2nd floor. Peyton helped Grammy make our second annual rice krispy treat wreath - what fun. Garrison took it all in, happy to let Grammaw and I hold him. Peyton and Grammaw "danced" to the Christmas music boxes - sometimes going on all at once! The parents arrived back home around 11:30, and we all enjoyed pizza and fudge that Grammaw had made - and of course, Peyton's wreath creation. She was quite proud of it.

We left around 1 p.m. as they were leaving for Peyton's Dance Academy's presentation of "The Nutcracker". Peyton said she was going to the dancecracker! Isn't she a hoot. Garrison looked quite dapper in his snowman sweater and jeans, and Peyton was beautiful in her holiday plaid skirt, black top and tights. Mommy and Daddy looked quite nice as well.

The three of us made a couple of stops on the way home at Sam's Club and Kohl's before arriving back in Clinton around 5 p.m. - what a full day. We all had a blast.

On Sunday, I played the organ for both services at church which I enjoyed very much. We took Mom to the Vansant-Mills Memorial Service where she received an angel to remember Daddy. She was sad but glad to attend to honor him. She enjoyed hearing David and me sing, and I managed to sneak in playing her favorite, How Great Thou Art before the service. Following the service, we took Mom home, and then Ron and I went to the staff Christmas dinner at the Rotary Building - delicious prime rib.

Busy weekend!