After the candlelight service, Grandma read all present grandkids “A Night Before Christmas.”
“Why are we reading this one?” asked Isaac. “Because it’s the night before Christmas!” said Uncle Justin.
We did a traditional JUMP photo Christmas morning between stockings and the rest of the presents, after a leisurely breakfast. Just kidding. Breakfast with five kids four and under is never leisurely. By the time we were done the boys were back upstairs completely satisfied with their stocking toys. We had them come downstairs and open more anyway. After a while I felt sick and had to lay down the rest of the day. That was a bummer. It’s Christmas!
The day after Christmas I was feeling better and totted my kids to see the in-laws and celebrate Grandad’s birthday!
On our drive home, a huge accident shut down all of I-10 westbound. At this moment, Eloise started screaming her head off. Then the car died. And it started to rain. Wait, am I in a country song?! Cars behind me started honking as I got the car restarted. It shut off three more times as traffic crept along. Eloise kept screaming. I called my dad in desperation. Once we got passed the flares, cops, and crushed cars, Isaac piped up from the backseat: “I think Pa is a hero a-cuz he is going to fix the car. The engine in our car. Yeah. I think Pa is a hero.” We pulled over as soon as we could exit and there he was with oil to fix the problem. Thanks, Dad!!
Then MORE cousins arrived, along with a cold front for some temperatures below the 80s finally. THE PARTY JUST KEEPS GOING!