Christmas

December 23rd: We had Christmas with the IL’s. We were told to be there around noon and we’ll eat around 3. Since this was a Sunday, that meant the Vikings were playing at noon. I said to Roger "how much you wanna bet Becky (his oldest sister) and her family will get there right before 3". Yep they got there at 3. She said that’s what she was told. I know it because the 2 kids take a nap like at 1 or something. Anywho, Gene (BIL) and Simeon (nephew-12) came, Macie (Roger’s middle sister) was sick and stayed home. We had a wonderful meal of crablegs and who knows what else! lol. Bruce did great, we sat on the end of the table that’s on the living room side, we put him on a blanket with some toys. We were able to eat dinner and he was totally fine. Well until niece Codie (3) decides she done eat and goes and pokes at him. The whole night she just bugged me! I know she’s only 3 but in my opinion she is so rough with Bruce. Maybe not rough, but pokey and it makes him unhappy. It’s it not occassionally, that’s all she does the whole time! I heard Becky say once about "oh when Bruce is as smart as Codie (blah blah blah)". I’m thinking smart doesn’t have to do with this. The next day too she said "Codie just love him so much". That’s great but why isn’t Becky telling her she needs to be more gentle, back up, don’t get so in his face. Anywho. Bruce got lots of great gifts. He did grab at the wrapping paper and kinda pulled it. Ryban (5 – Becky’s other kid) of course wants to open his presents, as if he doesn’t have enough to open. I tried telling him "no, you have you own presents" but every single present. He did this a little bit at my shower too. We did get a nice picture of the 3 of us. We got one with the 4 grandkids. That was hard cause Codie wouldn’t keep her hands off Bruce. Trying to make him smile with her fingers and such. We got a nice one of us too.

December 24th: We spent the night, as did Gene and Simeon. Becky lives 7 miles away. Noon the next day we had brunch. They had invited other people, I think Becky’s ILs and my parents. My parents were the only ones that came. Becky came back with the kids after Matt went to work, so about 2. After we ate, my parents stayed for a little bit, then we packed up to go home and get ready for Christmas Eve with my mom’s side, which was at my aunts at 6pm. They alternate who hosts each year. We haven’t gone in the past few years since we do Christmas Day at my parents with my dad’s side. We usually do Christmas with ILs on the 24th. We had decided to give up my side on Eve cause we feel we don’t spend enough time with the IL side. So having it on the 23rd was great!

We go to my aunts at 6, which worked out good that we were one of the 1st. I think it helps Bruce to be there first, then people gradually come. Especially with sleeping in the car, when he comes in and people charge the door, he screams That went really well. I can’t believe how many gifts he got there and all toys, some books!  We stayed til almost 10. It worked out smooth, Bruce fell asleep in the car for the half hour ride, when we got home he woke up, I quickly just transferred him tot he crib and left and he went back to sleep. I had changed him into his pjs before we left, then of course we decided to do the pictures. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before I put him in his pjs. Sill cute though. And a picture of us close cousins, Me, Pam, Lyle (my brother), and Stacey

 December 25th: We woke up and had our own little Christmas morning. 

Then we headed to my parents. Once my brother’s family was there, we opened all of the gifts. Then the rest of the family came around 3. My mom was kinda complaining about how late. I said I was fine with it cause I had gotten Bruce to nap in her room in the swing. So the longer they don’t come, the longer he’ll nap since I knew he wouldn’t nap when people showed up. That worked out good. He didn’t want his 6 o’clock nap. We were spending the night. Since Roger had to work in the morning for sure. I gave up my Wednesday morning shift (Thank Goodness!), we put him in my brother’s room (next to mine). At 9 he went down easy, but then woke up maybe a half hour later, wanting to be with the people. So he was up til 11:30 til they left. Then at 2:30am he woke up, he was looking at the door like "I want to party!". I brought him out there to show him noone is here, but of course he had energy. took an hour or more to get him down. I just stayed in the bed in that room instead of waking Roger up getting back into bed. Boy was I glad I gave up my shift!

Bruce is 5 months & 2 weeks old