Christmas Circus 2008

This is how I describe our Christmas trip to Mobile each year. It is like a circuit that we travel around. We always go to Mobile the weekend before Christmas. For several years now, we have celebrated with my dad's family on the Saturday evening before and then Sunday night we are with my mother's family. Mark's family is Sunday lunch. We arrived this year at lunch on Saturday and went straight to my dad's house. We had a light lunch on small appetizer plates (read into this) with my dad and his wife, Janice.

They have a Wii so as one could imagine, the kids had a great time (so did Mark and I) playing on that. Lots of fun. Then they opened their gifts from them. B got a racetrac and Battleship.

E got a CD/radio player and diamond/gold necklace from them. B also got a treasure chest handmade by a friend of my dad. They were both very excited. We left there to drop off Mark's car at his mom's house...

Next, Mom's house. Mom is my dad's mother. We have alwas called her Mom, her choice of grandmotherly name when my cousin's were born. At this gathering would be my dad & his wife, Janice; Mom, of course; my dad's brother Ronnie and his wife, Judy and their granddaughter - Carley; my dad's sister Aunt Trisher (yes, that is how we all say it) and her husband Dennis; and the four of us. This is a vibrant group - I am loud and my voice carries...let's just say this is how the ntire crew is there. This gathering is held at my grandmother's home. This is a one bedroom, one bath, small house that was built for her on my aunt's property. The kids get gifts there from the adults and then the adults play dirty Santa. It is always a lot of fun and lots of laughter. At this stop, B got a race trac and a game of stacking chairs. E got a rapping rodent (mouse that sings rap music and dances) and a 2-CD set of music which is great. The food was wonderful and the conversation quite colorful (not sure how to adequately describe it). One conversation was the result of a commercial on TV. There are these new Barak Obama coins that one could buy. Now, I don't really think that Obama (or any other elected official) would want a coin with their face on it that isn't even circulated currency/coin. This is a gimmick to get people's money. I digress...my dad's reply to this commercial is this:
"I have some 30-O6 shells at home that need to be used on something. I could use them on those coins. I could blow his head up with them." This is all in front of his grandchildren, my children. This is exactly what they need to hear and the example they need to learn from, right?

There was another conversation later in the evening about Mexicans and Chinese or other Asian decent citizens who work in Mobile. They should all know English as their first language. My dad and his brother should never have to deal with them...on and on and on.....just so very sad.

Let's see...OH - my brother and his wife Jenny and my sister and her fiance' Troy do not attend this event. They haven't spoken to my dad in quite some time and do not participate in the family gathering at Christmas or any other time with our paternal side of the family. As we were backing out of the driveway this year, I noticed I had a missed call on my phone from my sister. I called her back and she wanted to know if they were all still there. I told her yes and she told me that she & Troy were going to run by there. Very good. I know the family would be very happy to se them. She told me on Sunday night that she did go by there. I know that they were all thrilled to see her. Not sure how long it has been since she has seen Mom.

OK, up next....lunch at G & Paw Paw's house (Mark's parents). Prior to this, though, we had to finish shopping. We had not purchased a gift for our nephew Ryan yet. There is a new, really cool shopping area 'across the bay'. There is also a new and really cool Bass Pro Shop on that side of the bay. We knew could get him something there. We decided to get up early and head across the bay to finish up our shopping. We also had to finish shopping for Mark's mom. So, we would be able to get both of these done early on Sunday before lunch at her house. My brother and his wife live on the eastern side of the bay. I checked to see if they wanted to meet us for b'fast since we would be in their neck of the woods shopping. They did. So, we ate b'fast with them and then the Bass Pro was open. Ran there, then to JC Penney for G's gift. Then back to the west side of the bay. Straight to G's house...lunch, then gift chaos for the kids. Gifts, gifts and more gifts. A fun time with Aunt Angie, Ryan (Uncle Hunter was called into work) and G & Paw Paw. E played with her new swimming doll and was dressed in her new Cinderella dress. B was transformed into a Clone Trooper with the helmet he received. Fun times. Let's see...one more stop on the circuit.

Next was Memaw's house. We were to meet there at 6:00 to eat and give her gifts. She, in turn, ended up giving all of us something - which she wasn't supposed to do. But she wanted to get us something. This gathering involves the following characters: Memaw; Aunt Dee (my mom's sister) and Uncle Hugh; Uncle Eddie (my mom's brother) and his wife Denise, her daughters Carly & Amanda and her boyfriend Marcus (I love his hair, by the way); Christy & Todd, Meadow; Alison & Jeff, Lainey & Cole; Jarrod & Edith, Patrick & Paige;

Kim & Troy;

Kyle & Jenny; then the 4 of us. So many of us, and so much fun. This year, we were going to bake Christmas cookies and decorate them. We ran out of time and this didn't happen. Maybe next year. Maybe we should start earlier than 6:00...oh never, mind...B got Legos from Aunt Kim and a Star Wars Transformer from Uncle Kyle & Aunt Jenny as well as clothes from them. Oh and he got $$ from Memaw. E got Dora Scrabble from Aunt Kim and a Dora phone and clothes from Aunt Jenny & Uncle Kyle. Memaw gave her a case of make up. It has been interesting. She loves it. They both love their families and had a wonderful weekend in Mobile.

Thank you to all of our family for hosting us while we are in Mobile for so many wonderful meals and for the beds to rest in. Thank you from us to everyone for the gifts for our kids!!

So, the circus ended then. On Monday morning, the kids and I pulled away around 9:30 am and put the bird back down on the ground in Auburn around 12:30. One may ask why we didn't/don't stay longer. We are off from work for two weeks. Well, there is so much that goes into this...so much. The way I describe it is that there is a lot of baggage for both of us (me and Mark) in Mobile. I enjoy being at home, it is peaceful here. Things are under my control here. That isn't the case in Mobile. There is so much vulnerability there. I will use an example that a friend uses...it is like jello that will not form. You put it in the bowl or form, and it will not gel. It just runs through the cracks and crevices. I can't keep it all together and in place. It is easier at home, here. I am a basket case while there. Certain family gatherings specifically.

Now we are home. I have so much to clean up and put away. Laundry to be done...oh and a couple of things to buy for the kids.

Merry Christmas, my blog readers, I wish everyone a very merry and peaceful Christmas!!!!!