National CHAP-OONS Christmas Vacation

My all-time favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  It's rude and crude and well, quite frankly, just a little too honest about the truth about the holidays.  "Because it's Christmas and we're all in misery."  hahaha... my Christmas wasn't miserable by any means, but there are those moments...

...and then the relatives invaded...

Well, we've already covered the "then we'll have a cat running around the house" and the "where do you think you're going to put a tree that big, Griswold?" parts of the movie.  Cat in the house.  Check.  Giant tree.  Check.

I felt a little like Ellen at the beginning of Christmas Vacation... you know when she and Clark are getting in bed after a long day of getting the tree and they're covered in sap and can't turn the pages of their magazines?  Ellen says "my parents called today... they're coming TOO!"  gulp.

Our list for relatives coming to town for the break, ended up:
Jane and family
John and family
Melissa and kids
My Mom

At least we don't have a cousin Eddie.  And no one brought a dog named "Snots".  And the cat wasn't wrapped in a box.

Well, we set up for a big ol' fashioned family Griswold (Chapman) Christmas Vacation.   Everyone knows how much I panic when my worlds collide, so I was a little worried how it would all turn out when I found out how many would come through ABQ over the break.  But, as it turns out, things went really smoothly.  It helps that David's parents live here, so they didn't all stay at our house and they weren't all in town at the same time.  In fact, we only ended up hosting Janie and their dog, Sneakers, as overnight guests for the Chapman portion.

Sneakers and Kit Cat were not cool with being roomies.  So, for Sneakers' stay, she was given the main floor of the house and kitty was banished to the master bedroom.

Jane and family arrived Christmas Day in the evening.  We had a great dinner at Grandma's house and had a nice time hanging out.  We always have a good time with Jane's family.  The girls were super excited to have Janie staying with us again too.

It has been almost a decade since we had a Christmas celebration with David's oldest brother, John, so that was way overdue.  John's family came the day after Christmas, minus Stephanie who was working, Jenifer and hubby Luke, who were having their first Christmas as parents to little Everley, and Ben who is on a mission in Denver right now.  Chelsea and Natalie were super fun to have around and John and Sue, who had our names for Christmas, brought extremely thoughtful gifts for us.  We had a huge family dinner at our house when John got here and had a ton of fun with them too.  Meanwhile, poor Grandpa was coming down with the flu.  He really got it bad and wasn't able to enjoy too much of Christmas visiting.

We did our best to have fun with the cousins.  Everyone always loves to go to Old Town Albuquerque, so that was high on the list.  We did the natural history museum, saw the Hunger Games movie with Janie, and had a big game night with Grandma.  

I can't believe I've never noticed this cool gate before in old town, but it makes for a festive photo op.

Barbara can get revenge later, but I had to put this one in.  This is what happens when you try to hug grandma.  Especially if you're an adult.  

Let's face it, when you have the biggest holiday of the year and you combine it with all the traditions you try to keep, involve other family, have a range of people from ages 7 to 80+, have worked for more than a month to try to make everything just right and have all of these expectations and ideas about how it will all go... well... you're kidding yourself if you think you'll pull off perfection. 

I remember a section from the book "The Happiness Project."  I didn't really love the book, but this one part stuck for me.  It talks about how true happiness is found in family events because of the love that goes into the plans, and the efforts, and the expectations, etc.  The happiness doesn't come from the actual outcome of those plans, efforts, or expectations.  The happiness comes because you have family rituals and traditions and gatherings, not how they turn out each individual time.  It's the sum of the parts that counts.  It's making that darn Buche de Noel, every stinking Christmas Eve that your kids will remember - not each one, and not whether one was prettier one year or the frosting didn't set one year or you were so sick you couldn't even eat it one year.  They'll just remember that you made it for them every year and find happiness in the tradition.  And, when they taste it again, it will bring back happy memories.  The happiness comes from knowing that Grandma has a table full of games and prizes at every party and has had for decades, not from winning the games or getting the prizes, and even if (ahem) you have a big fight over the rules, your end result will still be happiness because of the tradition of playing games with your family.  And, one day, all those awful moments WILL be laughed about.  One day.

This isn't all to say that we had lots of awful moments.  There were just normal family tiffs, cousin jealousies, sickness, food taking longer than we thought to make, etc.  Mostly, everyone really had a good time and things went really well.  I just thought a lot about that idea of happiness during the few crazy moments and afterwards.  

I digress... that's only the half of it.  Then, the Mitchells came for New Year's!  

John's family were the last of the Chapmans to leave on the 30th.  Grandma, Melissa, Sean, and Kate flew in on the 31st.  We did a quick reset of the guest quarters, made a mad dash to the store for fresh food, and were ready to ring in the new year with a few of my family as they flew in at dusk.

These little matching monsters stayed up until 1am on New Year's.  Then midnight the next night and the night after.  Tired doesn't begin to explain.  But they are sure cute making their toasts!

Even though I do believe the part about true happiness coming from the accumulation of family memories over many years, it is still super nice when everyone is actually happy and cheerful in the moment too.  Harriet and Kate can be hard sometimes and we've had our share of cousin tears.  This trip though, they were angels pretty much the whole time.  They didn't fight once, played incessantly, and pretty much had a grand 4 days together.  

David gets best uncle award.  He offered one day, to take all 4 kids to the movies by himself and let Melissa and Mom and Me go out to lunch and shopping in peace.  Melissa really couldn't believe it would work out.  The 4 kids can be hard sometimes and Kate doesn't like going places without Melissa.   We totally took him up on it though, and went to lunch at a little cafe and shopped in the mall for as long as Melissa's anxiety could take it.  She figured they would be home soon and probably in tears and didn't want to wear out her welcome mat.

We came home to an empty house.  No kids, no David.  I looked them up on find friends to see where they were.  I could see the GPS signal out in the middle of the mesa.  They were out 4-wheeling in the truck!  I called to see how things were going.  They were all on speaker phone in the truck having an awesome time, laughing and telling jokes and having fun with David.  No tears, no problems, why didn't we shop a couple hours longer?  Next time, we'll take him up on the full measure.  

These cousins needed an old town outing too, so, back we went for a second round and a trip to the aquarium.  The pictures of the kids in front of the coral reef and the shark tank are always my favorites.  We take the same ones every time they come.  Even in just 4 years, it's crazy how much they've all grown up!

I love this giant Christmas tree in old town.  

It's a tree made out of real Christmas trees (each branch is a whole tree.) 

And, I thought this was such a cute moment:  the 2nd graders reading to each other.  Sometimes I forget that it's THESE TWO cousins who are the same age.  Since Grace is the one who plays with Sean and Harriet plays with Kate, Sean and Harriet rarely have any time together by themselves.  But, Melissa and I are keenly aware that they are in the same grade as we compare their school work, assignments, and curriculum all year.  Anyway, it was super adorable to see them reading together like this.  

And, that's it folks.  Our whole Christmas break was spent with awesome family.  We are really so grateful they all came and wish we could have had more days with each of them.  Wouldn't have my Christmas break any other way.  (Or would I??  One of these years, there will be no presents under the tree, plane tickets in all the stockings and we will leave that day for somewhere tropical and magical.  But that will only be one year out of 90.  So I guess I'm already doing exactly what I wish I was doing each Christmas.)  

I took a whole 10 pictures of our time with all of these family visiting.  I don't know if that means we were too busy having fun or what, but I do feel really bad that I didn't take more photos.  This was not the year to be recorded, I guess.  Hope the memories last extra long, then.

Christmas 2013

Our tradition since moving away from Salt Lake 9 years ago has been to have a friend-centered Christmas Eve.  We've spent nearly our last decade of Christmas Eves with some of the most amazing friends of our lives.  This year, we decided to spend a quiet Christmas Eve at home, with just ourselves.  At first I was kind of sad about that (not inviting friends over), but it ended up being the best thing ever, especially considering we weren't feeling well at all.  David was the worst who had come down with the cold/flu thing that Harriet and I had had the week before, and I was absolutely sick to my stomach.  I could barely eat anything.  It was so hard to make all that delicious food and not eat it.  I was so grateful to not be hosting a party or going to one.   Plus, it was so nice to just be able to enjoy the kids.  Sometimes when you do parties, you have to be so involved with entertaining or with adult conversation that you can't really spend time with your own kids.

We set a super fancy table, just for us.  I cooked the girls' requests for dinner:  salmon and mashed potatoes and rice pilaf for Harriet, clam chowder for Grace.  I made a Buche de Noel - only Harriet and Grace were able to eat any of it.  Then, we face-timed with my family who were all together at Melissa's house and opened all our gifts together over the internet.  We went to bed early.  Santa came.  SANTA CAME! We slept fairly late, and had a relaxed morning.  (You would have NEVER known that the conversation of less than 48 hours ago had ever happened.)

 Opening stockings was great.  Santa brought Grace a 2 pound York Peppermint Patty and Harriet a 2 pound Reese's!

While I was at the store that one day, the kids made stockings for Shadow and Kit Cat.  Santa magically filled them too.  Shadow got doggie wash and Kit Cat, a toy bird, that she promptly hunted and killed like the good little hunter she is.  

I was super worried about how Grace would handle Christmas without Velvet.  It was always a special time for them together.  Thankfully, she has bonded with Shadow (just not in the same way), and Harriet was occupied with Kit Cat so she didn't spend the time she usually does with Shadow on Christmas morning.  I think Kit Cat might have actually saved my Christmas morning.  I was dreading that hole in the living room where Velvet should have been - she always watched Grace open her presents and seemed to enjoy it as much as the people did.  We still missed her, but the kids were happy and the animal love, sufficient.  Thanks for stepping up, Shadow and Kitty.

The kids declared it "best Christmas ever," just like they do every year.  I'm so glad that they are always excited about every single gift, that they always think they got way more than they asked for, and that they never cease to be amazed by what is under the tree, no matter what it is.  That is what makes it all worthwhile - seeing that much joy and surprise on your kids' faces.

Harriet's "BIG" requests this year were the "Saige" dress that matches her American Girl doll (she was SO excited!), and the LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruiser.  She set up a table in the living room and had that thing put together in one day.  It is really super cool.  

Grace's requests were all a long list of Star Wars stuff, including a very awesome Darth Maul lightsaber as well as the Darth Maul costume.  Among other things... "Padawan Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Jinn LEGO guys" (because those are still made... no worries - Santa can do anything!)

 Grace was surprised that Santa brought her a fedora hat and a flannel shirt.  Who knew she would turn into an instant hipster.  She would wear them 24/7 if she could.  At least she looks the part when she's playing a Pearl Jam song on her guitar.

The girls giving their gifts to puppy and kitty... so sweet. 

LEGO build!  What else?

Harriet was surprised with some new Ken dolls and a Hello Kitty watch that helps her learn to tell time on a clock.  

She wore the Saige dress to church the next Sunday, so I had to throw the picture in.  ADORABLE.

Nothing better than fighting with your Sith Lord Daughter, right?

David's parents and Christine came over later for brunch and to do a few more family gifts.

I don't know why, but I like taking pictures of tables I've set.  I like collecting cool things to use in the settings and I like making them different.  This year, I added a set of  Nutcracker napkin rings to my collection.  Anyway, this was the brunch table.    

Grandpa was especially excited to get a word search book from Harriet ;)

After they left, we hung out, watched a bunch of movies, and the kids were able to play with their new toys.  That's always what I really wish for Christmas Day, is enough time for the kids to play with their new toys.  I love it when they can just stay in jammies all day and play and eat and play and watch a movie and play some more.

We took much fewer pictures than normal.  No video at all.  I'm really feeling sad I didn't take any video.  I usually catch the kids waking up or coming down the stairs or opening their favorite gift.  Well, you can't always be perfect I guess.

We did have a really nice Christmas and are so grateful to everyone for everything that they sent or brought to us.  Sometimes, you think that it's not important to do so much or try to remember so many people, but on the other end, it makes you feel so loved to know that someone did remember you and went to some kind of effort - even if it was just to write your address on an envelope and put a stamp on it.  So, thanks everyone.  

funny story...

Real quick before I finish blogging about Christmas, you should refer to the comment that Melissa made on my last post.  Something about how she couldn't wait for the next post about how the cat peed on everything and ruined Christmas.  She must have a crystal ball, or she gave the universe a wicked idea...

Well, it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  But, 2 days later, we were all frantically getting ready for church.  It was "Christmas Sunday" and we were trying to get in our Christmas best and get out the door for a good seat in church.  I had my tights half on, one leg hanging from the other, when David says "Kit Cat, what are you doing... what do you think you're doing..." as he watches her from the balcony in our living room.  I run out and we watch her sniff Shadow's bed and start peeing on it. WHAT.  Nooooooo.  We cannot have a cat who pees on things!  I had flashbacks of Melissa's cat that she had to have put down because the problem got so bad.

I race downstairs, tights flapping, screaming at the cat.  She doesn't budge.  Keeps peeing.  I pick her up.  She keeps peeing.  I mean, this wasn't marking her territory.  It was like a gallon.  Poor Shadow, just watching in horror.

I did get it cleaned up super quick and washed her bed immediately.  It was not ruined, thankfully, but I spent the next week in dread of what she might pee on again.  Shadow had scared her that morning and I was dying waiting for the next retaliation.  Turns out, she was just being REALLY picky about her litter box.  It had only been 3 1/2 days since I had set it up for her and it should have been fine for another day or two.  But, I changed it right away and have changed it every 2 days since.  No more problems.  Homeless kitty seems to not want to use the bathroom where she last used it.  Well, at least problem one - solved.

Next up - how Kit Cat ruined Christmas.  The rest of this post is for adult eyes only. FOR REAL.

The very next day after the pee incident, I went out shopping for food for Christmas and left the kids home for a bit.  As I walked in the door with groceries, I asked them where was the cat.  They didn't know and couldn't see her.  I was so freaked out that she was somewhere peeing, I told them to hurry and look for her while I brought in the rest of the groceries.  2 minutes later, Harriet comes down the stairs to report that she has found packages in my closet with tags on them "from Santa."  I nearly died on the spot.

I had told the kids they weren't allowed in my closet because it had surprises in it and they were super good about it.  I had their gifts from David and me, as well as other things.  But, she had gone in there to look for the cat.  UGH!!! Kit Cat!!!

I was desperate to think of a good reason why those packages with those tags were in my closet.  After what seemed like an hour, I told them that sometimes Santa has so much to do that he will bring gifts a few days early so that they are already at the house.  Then he comes back to finish and do stockings on Christmas Eve.

Harriet said she wished that I would have just lied to her and told her something that wouldn't have ruined Santa's secrets.  Grace said she thought I was going to say something ELSE, but was very glad I didn't.  I asked her what she thought about it.  She and Harriet both agreed that they would completely forget by tomorrow (CHRISTMAS EVE, mind you) and that Grace would really like to pretend that "this conversation NEVER happened."

There you have it.  The cat peed and ruined Christmas.  Thanks a lot Lis!