Christmas is just not the same.
Oh, it wasn't a bad Christmas, just quiet.
We went to the Christmas Eve service at church at 11 pm. When we got out it was a few minutes after midnight, and Boo immediately started bugging me about opening her presents when we got home.
'It's not Christmas yet.'
'YES it is! It's after midnight!'
*sigh*
'Mommy! Can't I open one? You always let me open one!'
She's not spoiled, not at all.
*snort*
'Fine, I'll just wake you up at six in the morning.'
'I don't think so.'
My need for sleep outweighed my common sense, and after all, she had a point, it officially was Christmas morning, so guess who got to open her presents?
I gave her the Christmas Eve present first, which of course was pajamas, it's always pajamas. A tradition my mother started when I was little.
Then she ripped into the rest, she didn't get much, but she did get things she really needed, like socks, and under things.
And of course, the horsie.
Which the dog was a little freaked out by.
And here is a better one of Glory, getting into the Christmas Spirit. Well, kind of.
She really wasn't all that happy with the whole Santa hat thing.
We then went off to bed, waking later than usual Christmas day. There was no rushing around. I did cook a big meal, we have LOTS of left over turkey.
We called everyone we could think of.
Of course, I felt like crying when I was talking to my other children. I could hear my grandchildren in the background, and my heart longed to be with them all. I held back the tears, I didn't want to upset them.
I also called my Grandma, and got to talk to my Uncle who traveled from Texas to Michigan with my nephew to spend Christmas with Grandma.
I called my Dad and got to talk to my little brother, who is really not so little anymore, being a big old grown man, married with four sons.
I talked to both my sisters back home, and my little niece who at 8 years old sounds so grown up.
I miss everyone, I miss the hustle and bustle, the kids squealing, the grownups laughing and talking, the food, the family and friends, all the busyness and activity.
I cooked, we ate, Boo went off to visit her boyfriend, DT watched tv, and after clean up, I fell asleep on the couch.
It wasn't a bad Christmas, it was just not the same.
