For weeks and weeks we prepare for this holiday. Well, not really just a holiday, but more like a season. Some start before Thanksgiving, some the weekend of, and some put off until right before they must. I will admit that I like to start before Thanksgiving. At least with the tree and outdoor lights(although we don't turn on the outdoor lights until thanksgiving weekend). This year, I didn't do a whole lot more than the tree. The boys had their little people nativity out, but I didn't even get out my demdaco nativity. The time flew by!! Cookies were made, stockings were hung, presents were wrapped, Christmas coffee cakes were made, candles were burned, Christmas movies were watched, carols were sung, hot chocolate was drunk, Christmas eve service was attended and was wonderful, and time was spent with family. I am thankful that in the rush of the "earthly" Christmas happenings, that we have a real reason for celebrating Christmas, and that Jack too is starting to understand that. I think he stills thinks Santa brought some gifts, but he knows the real "reason for the season" :)
We had many Christmas get togethers this year. It started with my dad's side of the family on the 23rd, our family on the 25th, my mom's side on the 26th, and my grandma's (on my mom's side) Thompson get together on the 27th.
Growing up, we always had Christmas in my grandparent's basement. A big potluck of food, grab gifts, and snitch bingo. ALWAYS snitch bingo. :) Here are a few pics of the kids playing around enjoying cousins they don't see a whole lot.
Christmas day brought lots of fun for Jack and Cole. Always with the stockings first, and Cole would have been happy with just that. As the Christmas tree cakes he found become his new best friend. Jack was every so thrilled with his new silos and auger, and Cole loves his new bouncing horse, and barn. We enjoyed a layed back afternoon waiting for Amy and her gang to arrive. For dinner that night we enjoyed Kumla. What is that? you may be asking. But as I grew up in a completely Norwegian family. We usually have some traditional Norwegian foods at holiday time. Kumla is as plain as it comes. First boil a ham in a large pot of water. Then you grind up peeled potatoes, mix them with flour, butter, baking powder and salt, then make little potato balls slightly smaller than the size of a baseball. Finally you boil them in the ham water. Amazingly, everyone who has joined our family has come to love Kumla. To eat it, you just cut it up pour a little melted butter on it, sprinkle with salt and enjoy with your ham and peas. We used to always have it grandma marge and grandpa ronnie's, but as the years have passed and families have grown, we now make it at my mom's house on Christmas day. It is usually finished off with a sweet treat, Lefsa. A dough that has been rolled out and cooked on a griddle until hard, then when you are ready to eat, you soak it in damp towels until it softens, spread with melted butter and sugar, fold and cut. Again, plain, but tasty.
The day after we headed down to Grandma Marge and Grandpa Ronnie's house (my mom's parents). The kids love to play with grandpa's tractors, horses, and pool table. Another yummy meal shared together. It was the first time in many years that everyone has been together. Josh has been home since he left Korea, Bekah was home from Dallas, Amy's family was up, and and all of around here were able to make it. Of course that meant taking a picture of everyone together. Here we are:
My camera died one pic into the Thompson gathering. So there isn't much to document. IT was good see cousins and family that we probably hadn't seen since weddings or the last Thompson Christmas 16 years ago when Great Grandma Mable passed away.
Now, I sit, with boxes by the door filled with the decorations that hung just earlier today. Happy to have the house back to normal, and trying to gear up for Jack's 4th birthday this weekend.
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