Christmas Questions Answered

Highlight of the Christmas Season:  I'd honestly have to say shopping at Target with my sister-in-laws likely tops the list. It was my first time going shopping in a real store since my surgery (6 weeks!). Don't get me wrong, I certainly attempted to go to Target on my own here in Utah while I was on crutches. I ended up not shopping after all because the shopping scooter they had that was available only had enough juice to go about 12 inches before dying on me. I many have shed a tear or two crutching back to my car empty-handed and decided to not try again. When I went shopping in Boise, boy were we a sight to see. 1 girl on crutches, 1 pregnant girl, and 1 VERY pregnant girl. Fortunately the shopping scooter had plenty of juice and Sarah and Kristen were able to find me by listening to the beeping every time I backed up, so even though our phones were either, dead or left in the car, it all worked out.

Here is Kristen being so kind and getting the scooter cart for me so I didn't have to hop to it. :)

Gift(s) you were most excited about giving?  I think the kids' Christmas jammies. They were all so cute and snuggly and it just made me so excited about Christmas morning.


Favorite gift received? I can't narrow it down to one. Many people were so thoughtful this year. My sister gave me an Oreo Cake pan from Williams Sonoma that I can't WAIT to bake with, my friend gave me these darling glove/mittens, my sister-in-law gave me a darling reversable scripture bag she made herself without a pattern, my parents gifted me with the most adorable diaper bag that was stuffed full of cans of my favorite soup--- Brunswick Stew! Kyle made a sweet picture family calendar, and I was especially impressed and shocked even by his sweater gift. It's a cute, brightly colored cable sweater that he picked out just for me.  It took me a while to be convinced he picked it out. He does have good taste, but it was so me.

Any gifts still needed to be given?  Yes! I still have my sisters' gifts, part of my parents' gift, and gifts for my grandparents to mail still. I was thrown off a bit this year with our unexpected departure to Boise.

Was Santa well-received this year? Not sure. I think so. I hope so. I had several talks with my children about Santa's gifts this year, preparing them for not receiving anything on their "list".  They reassured me they would still be "fine" with whatever Santa chose to gift them with, even if it was "just a black wock" according to Sav.

Santa came to Gramma and Grampa Berry's this year, but just left them a little something to tide them over until we got home. They woke up on December 28th (Was that Tuesday morning?) to 2 Lego Sets, and a darling dollhouse. {Ruby's gift is forthcoming. Backed up at the Elf Factory and all}. Sav loved her dollhouse, and has played with it a fair amount.  I think I may be in more love with it than she is though.  Cade was thrilled with his Legos and had friends over yesterday to help him get started on another one of his Lego cities.

Did you send Christmas Cards out? For the first time in a few years, yes! It felt good to get back in touch with our old friends near and far. I also sent Ruby's birth announcement with it. Nice to kill two birds with one stone there.

How Many? I ordered 200 thinking it would be plenty. Sent out 185 before Christmas. I have 13 more addressed that just need a stamp and to go in the mailbox (Cade! Can you do me a favor, Sweetie?!)  I gave 2 to Kyle to mail to his 2 favorite professors.  I think he was hoping for more than that. Sorry, hon.

Most unexpected card received? The nice man who delivers our milk left a sweet card on our cooler a few weeks ago. I thought it was so cute.

Most unexpected Christmas card sent? My massage therapist in Chicago, Ania. We're friends now. :)

Favorite card received?  I can't pin that one down. I love getting family cards from my siblings even though I see them all the time. I loved getting cards from my favorite families from my childhood-- like former YW leaders, seminary teachers, families I babysat for, etc. It's so fun to see how big their families have grown and what beautiful people those little babies I used to hold have grown up to be. I loved getting neighbors' cards, too. So many clever and cute ones. Savannah quite enjoys looking at them and asking me to tell her who all of the people are. Cards from friends of my childhood are especially enjoyable.

Does Santa wrap presents or leave them unwrapped?  Unwrapped, for sure. No question about it.

When do you plan on "taking Christmas down?"  -- Unlike my Mom, or the nurse that took care of me for yesterday's surgery, I prefer letting Christmas stay up for a good while. I don't have a ton of overwhelming Christmas decor, (though had I been able to shop during the month of November and December without assistance, I am sure I would have changed that!) so I'm not doing it to avoid the work. I just love Christmas, and I want to enjoy it.  Kind of makes me sad to take it down. I'm thinking mid to late January....???