Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas "firsts" and "lasts"

We are having a wonderful Christmas here and I hope you are too.

Each year I think "this is my favorite stage of my kids lives" but then the next year I am surprised at how much I love the next stage.

I never thought I'd love the teen years. But I can honestly say that I really do.
The way they interact with each other (most of the time) is really fun to watch. We spend so much time laughing.

I'm not sure if having our oldest off at college has made us all appreciate "family time" even more or if it has something to do with the move to a different state, but the kids are close and seem to support each other and enjoy spending time together. Don't get me wrong, they still have their moments but the good ones outweigh the bad ones and those are the times I choose to focus on.

This Christmas as I sat back and watched my kids, I realized that this year there were a lot of "firsts" and "lasts" in our home. I thought I would see if I could write some of them out.

a first: having my children's "significant others" (ie. boy/girl friends) at our home during the holidays.

a last: having our kids all to ourselves....Nae spent part of Christmas day with her boyfriends family (which is also a "first" too) I guess I have to share right?
a first: my kids are finally enjoying family game time (in the past I always had to force them to play, now they actually ask to play).

a last: I think this may be the last Christmas that Tony runs around the house jumping up and down continually on Christmas Eve saying "Tomorrow is Christmas! Tomorrow is Christmas!" all of the other kids seem to have outgrown the "childish excitement" for Christmas....which is sad.

searching for the Christmas Pickle....it helps to tell them ahead of time that the prize is a gift card this year....

a first: Not having "what I want for Christmas" lists ten miles long from each kid. This year Mac's list was "a curling iron" and Buds list was "a DVD". Not fun to work with, especially when there are grandparents wanting ideas too.


I should mention that Tony only had one item on his list this year too....
a first: We will be meeting the parents of Nae's boyfriend today. Makes me feel old, but she is a senior in college so I guess these things have to happen soon or later.

a first: Having my girls help me in the kitchen (and not having to beg) and enjoying cooking together.

my girls....
Have a wonderful rest of the holiday season everyone!

13 comments:

Mike said...

well all of your firsts and lasts all seem to be relatively happy, so that is a good thing! :)

Lee said...

How nice that sounds! Of course, my holiday season was a bust, but that's a whole other story.

Widge said...

How cool! Yusssss! there is hope!! ;)

Pam said...

We've been very conscious of lasts this year as well since Katie will be off to college next year. She is feeling very sentimental and nostalgic and is noticing lots of lasts. *sniff* I was lucky enough to have both girls helping me on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for the first time as well. It was fantastic. Great post!

Brian Miller said...

eh, most of these first and last are not too bad...having to share the kids at christmas probably is little fun. so meeting the boyfriend...interested in how that goes. smiles.

hope you have a great new year!

Deborah said...

That was nice! I hope your having a nice Christmas week! Kids sure do grow up fast, don't they!

mommyto3kiddos said...

I don't even want to think about getting to "lasts" and I guess some of those "firsts" as well. Right now, we're pretty much routine and I'm good with that! :) I'm glad you had a nice Christmas though. :) I really can't believe Nae is a senior in college!

Michelle said...

OH man, you are breaking my heart.

Yes, the stages of life.

and what's up with the pickle? I havent been visiting many blogs lately with the baby trying to come out. LOL

Tracie said...

I'm still waiting for my kids to participate in Family Game Night. We try it and it ends up a huge fight.

Mrs Montoya said...

We LOVE family game night - maybe the kids more than us! Your firsts and lasts are breaking my heart a little, but I love to see your family through your eyes. You alawys help me see what I have to look forward to. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Barb said...

I love your firsts and lasts list! We've just started teen years (oldest is 13). His list had only one thing too - the "Lost" DVD's. Happy New Year!

Mike said...

Yes, I have noticed that you are missing!

High Power Rocketry said...

Well done : )