Christmas at Home

We had a weird run up to Christmas this year for several reasons. We were leaving for Illinois so early that we really didn't have much time at home between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and what little time we did have Jackson had the flu. He actually got sick when we were decorating the tree and was sick for 8 full days. It was terrible, but we did take solace in the fact that we had a great day leading up to that point, so Jackie did get a little bit of Christmas preparation in.

We started off by going out to pick out our tree and cut it down. It was snowy and wonderful, and we were joined by the Straus-Singers, Todd, Emily, and Etta, who are Jewish and have never cut down a Christmas tree before. We all had a great time finding the right tree and dragging it home.

Jackson and Etta were more interested in eating the popcorn than in stringing it, and Susie and Todd had to run out for more lights, but we did finally manage to get everything in place, and then the kids really got into the act by helping to decorate the tree.

Unfortunately the fun ended there because Jackie boy got sick and Etta had to go to bed. It would be over a week before we got back to the Christmas stuff because the mommies just couldn't bring themselves to finish decorating the tree without Jackson.

Thankfully, our little man made a full recovery and was eager to get back to the tree. He never tried to climb it or pull on it. He would occasionally touch it every gently or try to rehang ornaments that had had fallen off. He especially loved his job of putting the angel on the top.

The night before leaving for Illinois, we had a little gift exchange for just the three of us. Jackson came downstairs from his bath to find a new slide in the living room for him. He didn't really understand why it was there, but he was nonetheless very excited.

After he wore himself (and us) out by going down it over and over again, it was Mommy Susie's turn. Jackson was eager to help her unwrap the present that he had helped wrap the day before.

Susie got a digital picture frame that she had been wanting for a while now. It plays pictures, music and movies.

Rach didn't have a present to open, but Susie and Jackson revealed to her that she'd be getting the ski pants of her choosing, which made her very excited, because not only did she really want some new ski pants, but she also wanted to pick them out herself.

All in all the evening was nice little slice of the holiday that we got to keep all to ourselves. It's nights like that we'll remember for years to come.

And now to leave you with one more smile. Here is a video of Jackson enjoying his new slide.