Christmas means...

...something different to everyone. Brilliant statement, right. To some it is about religion, others time off but to most it is about getting together with people that you love and spending time with them. This Christmas has been different for me since I don't have the restraints of work holidays to control my time. My sister, the girls and I came over to Ukiah on Thursday to see our parents. Getting two young kids ready to go early in the morning is quite a feat but we got out exactly on time. As expected both parents called to check up on us while making the drive, we made the requisite feeding stop for the eight month old and made it in time for lunch with dad. For the last 3 days we have bounced around having meals, a glass of wine or opening gifts.

The best part of Christmas now is watching my parents spoil my nieces. CMA wants "birthday cake" all the time now, she loves the sweets but doesn't get them that often but a grandpa's job is to indulge so she got blueberry cheesecake and 2 batches of cookies to decorate with frosting. Grandma, on the other hand, gave her a gigantic box of books and a beautiful, red velvet Christmas dress...nah, she's not spoiled. CEA got shorted this year, she only got held, hugged and kissed by anyone that could get their hands on her. Most of the gifts were for her and her sister to share, movies, a mini piano, books all of which big sister opened but right now she just wants the attention. Soon enough her first birthday will be here and all of the gifts will be for her.

Today we also had a great open house/party to celebrate my moms recovery, 14 months after a cancer diagnosis and almost as important, to show of the two granddaughters. It felt like all of Ukiah showed up to celebrate good health and we ate and drank to it. It was especially nice to see my mom's great friend that was our savior while mom was sick. She organized the friends so there was food, took her to doctor's appointments, doled out the medication and made it possible for my sister and I to continue on with our lives, 3 hours from mom. We owe her a lot. The other special visit was from my Aunt and Uncle that traveled from Reno just for the party. They just moved back to the west coast so we are expecting to spend more time with them, what better place to start then Christmas.

My dear readers are all wondering why I am telling about this 2 days before Christmas, how has all this wonderful giving, celebrating and spoiling happened before the actual event. Well, it is called adaptation. My sister's family has their own set of traditions to develop including Church, tree decorating on Christmas eve and time for just them, so tonight they headed back to their home. Life changes and traditions evolve and now Christmas to me means a few days late in December celebrating the past year and looking forward to the next one and it doesn't need to coincide with days off of work or the 24th/25th.

So that is the end of Christmas 2007, part one. I still have Christmas eve with dad's neighbors, Christmas Day with mom watching movies, meeting my 2 newest nephews (they should be arriving any minute now,) and a gigantic Christmas get together with my Bay Area family. (chaos is 11 adults, 5 kids, a 6 six month old and two infants...I can't wait.)

Merry Christmas...however and wherever you spend it.