Family Christmas Time 2018

Thursday through Monday (11/29-12/3) I traveled to Moses Lake, Washington, to see my daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. I have seven grandchildren now and someone reminded me that seven is God’s perfect number. I forgot to tell my daughters.

I went to see them so that we could celebrate Christmas, even though it is only the beginning of the month. Temperature-wise, I was fine during the day, but froze when I tried to sleep. I ended up sleeping with my heavy sweater on every night. They didn’t cool down their houses any more than we do, so I realized that it’s wetter there and that makes it colder.

Everyday Orrin would ask me if I was staying at his house and everyday I told him, two nights at his house and two nights at his cousins.

I did a craft with the grandchildren. I had asked my daughters ahead of time if they had the supplies I needed. I had already bought supplies to do this craft with my women’s group (Home League). My first daughter said yes, but when I got to her home I asked again.

“Eve, do you have the supplies I need?”   

     

Eve, “You should find them in the middle set of drawers, second drawer down, on the desk bar.”

I looked through all the drawers and cupboards there and couldn’t find any of the supplies. So, I went to the store and bought them. The kids had great fun doing a craft with grandma. I let my daughter keep the rulers and hole punch. When I went to do the craft with my Home League ladies I discovered we didn’t have rulers; if I’d only known.

My oldest grandchild liked the craft enough that we made six more for people on her Christmas gift list.

On Saturday we all trooped off to Cashmere for their Christmas celebration. The third and fourth grade volunteer choir sang a number of Christmas songs. They were good. Santa arrived noisily on a fire truck while they were singing. But he stayed and listened until they were finished before he moved to his throne in the fire station. Liam got close to Santa while he was outside but, when we got in line to see him, Liam didn’t want to go in.

Mike and his family were 1 ½ to 2 hours behind us. He had gone in to Urgent Care believing it would be a quick trip and it took them three hours to help him. Meanwhile Sara was unsatisfied with the activities in Cashmere and called Eve to have them join us in Leavenworth. Five miles outside of Leavenworth the traffic was stopped. Two things were taking place in town – road construction, and a festival day. Traffic was being stopped by the road construction and slowed down by people trying to find parking. All the lots were charging $20 for parking AND were all full. Even the free lots on the edges of town were full. Sara talked to Eve one more time and continued to look for parking. Then she called Eve a third time and told her it was no use. There was no parking left. On the way into town I had commented that the cars traveling east were turned away. I guess I was close.

We met up in Wenatchee and had a late lunch before returning home. It was still a fun day.

Sunday we celebrated Christmas. I read the Luke 2 story to the children, asking questions to make sure they understood the story. Then we unwrapped our gifts.     

I love spending time with my daughters and their families, but I was so glad that it was time to go home.