Christmas 2010

So Christmas for empty-nesters can be a challenge to figure out. Gone are the hectic days of little kids anxiously awaiting mom and dad to get up and tackle the presents. Those are fond memories but makes for quiet Christmases now. Oh wait...that isn't such a bad thing!!!

Anyway we went to each house individually to celebrate together. Jeff - who lives in Pasco - also had a birthday party for their 3-yr old so it was a double-duty visit. Even ran into a little snow on the way home! He had a holiday train around his tree that he was having fun with. Little did my hubby know I had bought a Lionel recently and wondered if he'd like it as much.

Becky ended up coming to our house for this family gathering. That's when I let Phil have his little train. His eyes glazed over and I don't think he heard another word the rest of the evening. The train didn't run right off but he got it working within 24 hours and ordered a replacement part as well. Every now and then I manage to do something right.

On Christmas Eve we visited with Rick's family and enjoyed our visit with them. Then it was on to Kristina's for dinner and Family Home Evening with them. Families with kids is the way we remember celebrating. Christmas day we went to Becky's before her oldest girls left for Utah. Then we got to visit with Mandie's family. Her kids were having fun with all their new toys.

We were able to gather all in town on the Sunday before Christmas for food and chatting. That was fun. We appreciate having family nearby and how they enjoy being together. We love them all very much and wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we were totally alone.