Christmas Eve

The day had finally arrived--the most exciting day of the year when you are a child (and when you're an adult): Christmas Eve! Sage had been awake shortly after 6 everyday since the elves arrived, and with it being Christmas Eve, she was still on target for that. I like traditions, and I always grew up KNOWING what I was doing on holidays. So for the past few years, we started to have the entire family at our house for dinner and gifts on Christmas Eve, and it has worked out nicely. Not even close to as nicely as it worked out THIS year, but I'll elaborate on that more in a bit.

Earlier in the day, Bubs was watching Christmas movies. He is growing so much. I know I'm partial, but I think he's the most beautiful boy I've ever seen. I mean, really! He is just a good looking kid!

And you know that's true for this one. Cara gave her a Christmas activity set where you put jewels on the included Christmas tree card. Sage decided she'd make fingernails out of the jewels, too. I had to laugh. She had those jewels stuck almost everywhere but the card. They were completely around her ankle and wrist as bracelets. My personal favorite was the one on her forehead because she said that she was an Indian.

While Travis was cooking, Sage and I made our reindeer feed that we sprinkle on the sidewalk every year.

I made him take a break to take a picture. We hardly EVER have pictures of the 2 of us together, and I think this one turned out nicely.

Broccoli casseroles. This is Mema's recipe. Travis always makes a few things that Mema always makes on Christmas and Thanksgiving so that it feels like "home" to me. He started this on the first Christmas that I didn't go to Kentucky for Christmas (which was really sad for me) when I was about to have Sage, and he has always continued it. "Awwwww, how sweet!" Yes, I know.

The cutest kids I know at the kid table

I obviously didn't take any other pictures while people were eating. Shame on me, I know. But after lunch/dinner, everyone was ready to open their presents.

This is where it got a little crazy. There were so many people and presents everywhere, and I'm handing presents out and trying to take pictures. I think I got some good ones though. Look at little J and how happy he is with his horses. This child LOVES small toys that he can set up and play with.

He got a drill that I just realized hasn't even been opened yet, so I couldn't tell you how he likes it!

Tim and Eletha had just gotten back from North Carolina to see Travis' sister at about 5 that morning, and the kids had sent their own presents. Sara went shopping at school and bought this picture for Meagan.

I gave Sage these Hello Kitty animals. We both love Hello Kitty.

And I have no idea what this is, but what Travis and I gave Jaggar was a shake and go Thomas the Train. I seriously think that thing would go all the way down the street. It's awesome.

Sage was THRILLED with this dress from Tim and Eletha. She had seen it in Target just a week before and wanted it. I finally told her today that it had to be washed before she put it on again.

Kylie's present from Travis' dad and Linda.

Sage in her dress. Doesn't she look cute?

I got Kylie the same hello kitty stuffed animals as Sage.

THERE'S Jaggar's Thomas.

Strawberry Shortcake set

Dora doll that you can hook to the computer and change her eye color, earrings, hair length. Toys are crazy cool these days.

And we also got her a leapfrog gaming system that you hook to the TV and jump on the floor pad to play.

Okay, then it was Meagan's turn. I guess this is a good place to elaborate on why Christmas was so special this year. If you read my letting go or freedom blogs, then you know that I changed my life. Or I made a step to. A friend asked me the day after how things were now, but he didn't know it was the day AFTER when I told him, so I had no "results" to share, other than the literal weight that was lifted from ME. But on Christmas Eve, I was actually able to literally SEE and FEEL the effects of my steps of obedience and...humbling myself, I guess. And everyone else could, too. I sometimes slightly worried that I'd revert back to how I was...closed up, not nice, holding a grudge....but the truth of the matter is, I never did. Travis' family used to not be able to do much right in my eyes. They weren't really doing anything wrong, but my anger turned everything into something. That's kind of how it works. Anyway, when Meagan arrived, I was the first one out the door to help her inside with her things. I hugged her and greeted her first. No one made me. I wanted to. I tell ya, I don't recognize me. The whole house was warm. There was ZERO tension. This was a house full of love. Meagan said in front of everyone when we were eating, "I'm so glad we're all here together." I teared up. How did this happen? How did one thing break down so much hate? How did we instantly get to THIS place of joy from YEARS of so much hate? But it did. This family....who usually came on Christmas Eve, did our thing at 1 or 2 and was gone by 4 or so....they ALL stayed until after 8pm. And they weren't cleaning or doing anything that was preventing them from leaving. They were just ENJOYING themselves. Sitting around. Playing with the kids. Talking to each other. Eating too much. ;) I was in awe and shock. Travis' dad (also named Travis, btw, or else I wouldn't keep typing that) told him, "This is a different house, isn't it?" He also told me that it was "an absolute pleasure and delight to be there." It was really unreal. It was the way families should be. It was fantastic. It was so funny. At 8:15, Travis said to me, "Okay, I'm going to have to make them leave cause I got a lot to do here." It WAS Christmas Eve. We were so tired, but I SURE wasn't going to dare ask them to go. I didn't want them to! I told Nick, who called me that night, "Yep, I finally let 'em see the real me and they couldn't get enough of it. I'm infectious, what can I say?"

Anyway, back to gifts. I started shopping really early this year, but I was kind of stuck on adults' gifts. I just struggled to get the right ideas, and I just didn't want to buy something just for the sake of a gift if it wasn't really what someone wanted. Travis had asked Meagan what she wanted about a week or 2 before (after weeks of me asking him to ask her). An ipad. That's WONDERFUL. For a mere half a grand plus tax, the perfect gift was her's. And I told Travis (because I feel like because of so much bitching on my part before that I have to explain myself sometimes now), "It's not that I'm being mean about it...but that is a lot of money, especially at the last minute. And they don't even have wi-fi." I, too, would have LOVED an ipad, but it just isn't practical this time of year with all that we buy. But I did tell Travis as it got closer, "Look, if you want to do that for her, go ahead. I don't mind. I won't get mad if you get it for her. I'm just playing with you anyway about me wanting one. I mean, I'd LIKE one...but I'm just saying, if you want to get one for her and you can, go for it. I want her to have a nice Christmas." And we kind of went back and forth about it, but he just couldn't make up his mind about it either because of the money and wi-fi thing. So when I took the kids to Birmingham, he wrapped all of the gifts and finished shopping for Meagan and Tim, who is all that we had left. I asked him what he got Meagan, but he wouldn't tell me. I kept asking and he kept ignoring me, but finally on Christmas Eve, he did. I said, "Um I kind of thought it was from me too, so why wouldn't you tell me?" He said that he just wanted me to get the effect of her surprise too...but he got her an ipad. I said, "You did?! Cool." I was honestly kind of shocked he did...and even more so...he paid his OWN cash for it that I knew nothing about. If you knew Travis, you would know that this is amazing. He had been shopping several times, and I never saw one receipt out of our account. He was SAVING. REALLY saving. THIS was a gift to me. I was really proud and honestly excited to see Meagan get this gift because she REALLY had no idea. Travis told her that it wasn't happening and made her make him a revised list. SO...all that background info aside, here she is opening a CD, which was something on that list.

And here she is opening her ipad...Watch here. :) Oh, and Jaggar decided he'd open about 3 of Travis' gifts that I was going to give him the next day during this...hence my reprimand. Anyway, Travis and I both agreed that it gave her some hope in some way. And joy...because apple brings joy lol.

Meanwhile, Jaggar decided he'd go in the kitchen and eat the open candy. :)

A bit later, Cressa (one of Travis' stepbrother's daughters) came over with her husband and new baby, Samuel. Jaggar wanted to hold him, and even though you can't see his whole face, I think you can still see his elated expression.

EEK! How cute is that???

20 hours later...;) People were getting ready to leave, so I got a few family shots. Eletha, Travis' mom, and Sage.

Kylie and Travis

Me and Meagan

Travis' dad and all his kids...great and great great..and all that jazz ;)

Sage wanted a picture with Meagan holding her.

Travis' dad and stepmom, Cressa and her husband, Matthew and his brother, Dylan, who I met for the first time that day. I couldn't keep up with them all, but I didn't care. And Matthew is really cool. He was in jail for years for robbing a gas station, and now he's like all cleaned up and loving Jesus. I liked talking to him.

And Jaggar going for a ride on Daddy's foot.