This is the first year in forever that we've not been home for Christmas, having German Christmas on the 24th and getting up the next morning and hanging out in our pajamas until lunchtime. The girls throwing paper everywhere, which Joerg would collect for the recycling and Annika would protest, saying she has a great idea how to use that paper in her next project. So down the stairs the bag of paper would go, into the basement to join the other craft chaos. Lots of photos would be taken, and the girls' hair would be insanely messy and the dog would step happily in front of the camera for half of them, so all I would record would be a blurred wagging tail and some blonde tangles amidst a pile of crumpled paper. Then we would have lunch, something special which almost always included red cabbage and brussel sprouts.
This year we are not at home, which is, I guess, fitting now that we are undergoing a radical redefinition of what "home" will mean from now on.
We are with family, though, and family still means those who love you no matter what. No redefinition required there, at least. The girls brought along their very most favorite board game of the moment, Life. I don't know whether to be scared or amused that Frankie gets excited when she lands on so many Have a Baby spaces that she has to get a second van, and I love that Annika always wants to choose teacher as a career, even though it pays so little. Frankie, the strategist, always goes with doctor or lawyer (but then has all those kids, pretty much negating her financial strategy).
The girls are enjoying being with their cousins, even though we all are as different as can be. One of my girls' rules in playing Life is that you have to choose whether or not you want to marry a woman or a man (I'm guessing that's not the way the game is played usually in Southern Missouri, and certainly not at my sister's house). And then Annika and A.J.(from the Oklahoma branch) had a serious conversation about whether it's legal to marry your cousin or not (insert Oklahoma joke here).
But family loves you no matter what, and my girls still have that in abundance.
I hope you enjoy whatever holiday this time of year brings to you, with whatever family you have or have made for yourself.
* Not counting, of course, the three Christmases spent in the hospital. Of course those don't count.
This year we are not at home, which is, I guess, fitting now that we are undergoing a radical redefinition of what "home" will mean from now on.
We are with family, though, and family still means those who love you no matter what. No redefinition required there, at least. The girls brought along their very most favorite board game of the moment, Life. I don't know whether to be scared or amused that Frankie gets excited when she lands on so many Have a Baby spaces that she has to get a second van, and I love that Annika always wants to choose teacher as a career, even though it pays so little. Frankie, the strategist, always goes with doctor or lawyer (but then has all those kids, pretty much negating her financial strategy).
The girls are enjoying being with their cousins, even though we all are as different as can be. One of my girls' rules in playing Life is that you have to choose whether or not you want to marry a woman or a man (I'm guessing that's not the way the game is played usually in Southern Missouri, and certainly not at my sister's house). And then Annika and A.J.(from the Oklahoma branch) had a serious conversation about whether it's legal to marry your cousin or not (insert Oklahoma joke here).
But family loves you no matter what, and my girls still have that in abundance.
I hope you enjoy whatever holiday this time of year brings to you, with whatever family you have or have made for yourself.
* Not counting, of course, the three Christmases spent in the hospital. Of course those don't count.
Merry Christmas, Moreena! Sounds like a wonderful family gathering. Love the description of how the girls play Life!
Posted by: kathy a. | December 24, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Merry Christmas Moreena, Annika and Frankie!
Posted by: Jenn | December 25, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: epi | December 25, 2011 at 08:01 PM
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Kyla | December 26, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Hugs, Moreena. Still loving your writing. Wishing all the best in 2012.
Posted by: Sue | December 26, 2011 at 04:47 PM
Merry Christmas and Happy and healthy New Year to all of you!
Posted by: taly | December 26, 2011 at 06:56 PM
YAY for your girls showin' the Oakies how it's done with the same sex marriage! LOL. I love that you aren't spending a Christmas in the hospital and I love that you are together and surrounded by love on all sides. I sure have missed hearing about you all. Super happy to see you here. XO P.S. Love Wins. Every time. <3
Posted by: LP | December 26, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Merry Christmas!!! And no, Christmas in the hospital doesn't count.
So smart of you to do something completely different and yet still fun and chaotic this Christmas.
Posted by: liz | December 27, 2011 at 07:01 AM
Merry Christmas (if a little belated) and all the best for 2012!
(My sister and me used to love Life...)
Posted by: Hannah | December 31, 2011 at 05:20 AM
I could have sworn I posted here. But I guess I didn't.
I hope your Christmas was great and that 2012 is a much better year.
Posted by: Susan | January 01, 2012 at 06:33 AM