Twenty-One Christmas Highlights

There were so many moments that made this Christmas so special.  Last year, I posted our twelve Christmas highlights and it looks like the list grew this year.  We felt so blessed to be able to step out of our routine for ten whole days and be together non-stop.  It was also so great to be able to be with our families.  It was a great Christmas and we are grateful to the one who was born to save us, so that we could have life and the ability to celebrate.

 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

Thank you, Lord!

Twenty-one highlights (in no particular order):

1. After much anticipation, the boys finally got to pull Baby Jesus out of the Advent calendar on Christmas Eve and place Him in His manger to complete our nativity set

There is nothing more precious than watching your children truly grasp the meaning of Christmas, and this year we really saw Caleb's understanding of the celebration grow to a level that even surprised us.  By Christmas Eve, he could recite the Christmas story from the gospels of Luke and Matthew, and that was gift enough for us. We pray that the scriptures will abide in their little hearts.

 Plus, both boys really enjoyed getting to pull out a nativity piece every day and Caleb was so excited that his turn landed on Christmas Eve.  He couldn't resist rubbing that in a bit to little brother.  Next year, Sethie, you will get the even number days, buddy.

2. Getting to spend lots of time with all of our family and NOT feeling rushed

This is probably the first year since we have had children that we haven't felt pulled, tugged, and exhausted trying to visit with everyone while we were home. With Christmas being on a Friday this year, it allowed for a couple of extra days home, which meant we got to spend a full 5 days in each city. This cut down on a lot of the running around and we actually got some rest in, too. Of course, it could also mean that after five Christmases with kiddos, we may be getting some sort of rhythm down. Everything just seemed to flow this year, and for that we are extremely grateful. We were really fortunate enough to get to spend good, quality time with all of our wonderful family members. 

And playing Balderdash with the Denton/Workman clan was a hoot!!

3. Candlelight communion with Memaw and Pepaw at Flemingsburg Christian Church

This is a tradition that I am so happy continues with our family.  Sometimes we are flying in at the last minute, but God has always been gracious enough to give us good enough weather and timing to make it the 9pm service each Christmas Eve.  This year, the boys got to hold their own candles...with supervision.  I do think that Eric got burned by some hot wax this year while assisting a wiggly Biz.  We weren't surprised.

And few things are more beautiful than a candlelit church.



4. Having two boys who slept really well the entire time they were away from their beds

This gets a BIG WOO HOO from Eric and I!  I was especially nervous since Seth had been getting up at 3:30am-ish every morning since potty training over Thanksgiving.  I wasn't quite sure how this would all play out in new surroundings, but we were pleasantly surprised that he and Biz were champion sleepers.  That deserves another WOO HOO!




5.  Speaking of potty training...

Sethie did NOT regress on his potty training while were gone for ten days.  YES!!! 

6. Momma screaming like a little girl when she opened the new set of pots and pans that Memaw and Pepaw got her and lighting up like a Christmas tree when she opened her first quilt given to her by Papaw Larry and Mrs. Sheila

Two gifts that I have wanted for so long that I had forgotten how much I wanted them until I opened them.  Oh and did I mention that Eric also gave me a Swivel Sweeper?  It was my year!  Thanks!!

And how did we miss getting a picture of these jewels???

7. Thoughtful gifts from an awesome Hubby

Believe it or not, I have never had a collection of hard copy pictures of the boys in one place.  Well, that has changed now, since Eric gifted me with two big photo albums filled with pictures of the boys and our family. Plus, my sweet hubby gave me a recipe book, in which he wrote in all of my favorite recipes.  You really should see my recipe box.  It is a huge mess with pieces of paper hanging out everywhere.  I think the book was as much for his sanity as mine.  But it was so very sweet.  His gifts really made the UK visor and Wii tennis video game I gave him pale in comparison.  Sorry, honey.

8.  A little girl time

Girls are a rare commodity in the Workman family.  It is really nice to have another girl join the bunch.  This year, the newest addtion to the family, Ticia, Drew's fiance, joined us for the Workman family Christmas.  Memaw, Ticia, and I went out for a little girl time shopping in a cute little antique district in the township of Washington and then went for some hot chocolate.  With extra whipped cream.  It was a fun day and nice break from the surge of testosterone that Memaw and I are usually surrounded by.  And right before we left Flemingsburg, Memaw introduced me to the fun of greeting card making.  Memaw is a pretty creative gal, and it was fun having her show me her card making skills.

Notice that no one leaves a Workman family Christmas without some UK gear?








9.  Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars

Lightsabers, actions figures, costumes, Wii game, Legos...need I say more?

10. Caleb's "Red Ryder BB Gun"

Stay tuned! There is a whole post coming on that one.

11.  Who Wants Clean House???

If you have ever seen the show Clean House on the Style Network, then you can really appreciate one of our favorite tasks that we accomplished while in Kentucky.  Eric and I LOVE that show and since both of us are driven by organization, it is the perfect show for us.  It combines two of our favorite things...organizing and yard sales.  (Yes, we are 60 year olds in 30 year old bodies)  Anyway, it all started when Caleb dropped a piece of his granola bar in Memaw's closet and I went to work looking for it.  I started pairing up shoes and from there, an hour or so later their slightly unorganized closet was completely cleaned out, organized, and devoid of a ton of stuff that was either tossed, on its way to the mission, or put in a yard sale pile.  The fun continued in the basement closet that is actually the size of a small bedroom.  Memaw, Eric, and I really outdid ourselves in there.  But our finest accomplishment came a few days later at Granny's house, when we totally reorganized her back bedroom that had served as a closet/catch-all for the majority of the time she has lived in her house.  Within a few hours, her extra closet was converted back into a bedroom/play room and Hallelujah, the mass of toys in the living room had a brand new home.

12.  Christmas with an adorable Tennessee Titan

Oh, the happiness that occurs when a little boy gets the first football helmet of his own...and uniform to boot.

13. Perfect Gift for a Guy who never asks for anything

It's rare that Eric actually asks for something for himself.  That makes him a real tough cookie to shop for.  Eric was crossing his fingers and hoping he would get this snazzy UK jacket.  Thanks, Memaw and Pepaw for delivering!






14. Back in the Bluegrass after Six Months

Even when we lived in Iowa, we never went longer than a couple of months without stepping foot in Kentucky.  So, not being home since July 4th weekend was definitely a record for us.  A lot of that had to do with Caleb's soccer season this fall.  So, we were more than ready to get back to the Bluegrass for a ten day stretch!

15.  Watching UK beat U of L at the Brown Family Christmas

We all came doned in our UK best ready for some good food, fellowship, and ready to cheer on the Big Blue against our biggest rivals, the Louisville Cardinals.  And the Cats did not disappoint, as they beat the Cards 71-62, increasing their win streak to 15-0.  Aside from the game, our get together was a lot of fun, as we got to see family we hadn't seen in about a year.  And the food was great, as always!  Plus, we won the 6 second Abs exercise contraption in the White Elephant/Dirty Santa Family gift exchange.  Look out, fam!  Next year, the Workmans are coming in cropped shirts to show off our toned abs.

That fancy UK necklace was the boys' gift to me.

16. Snuggies!

It was the year of the Snuggie on both sides of the family!

17. Watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve beneath a warm blanket indoors

Okay, this has been the coldest winter we have had in a many number of years, so while Eric and I were watching the New Year's Eve hooplah on television, we kept telling each other how glad we were to NOT be out doors in all of that.  It just looked so cold.  We were very content under our warm blankets in Granny's living room.  And there may have been a snuggie involved, too.



18. Christmas Morning Breakfast

I am NOT referring to the two pans of cinnamon rolls that I totally scorched on Christmas Eve morning at our house in Tennessee.  Wow! What happened there?  I am referring to our traditional Christmas fare that Granny prepares for us each Christmas morning (whatever day it happens to land on for us.  This year, it was actually New Year's Eve morning).  She always provides sausage balls, hashbrown casserole, and fruit salad.  YUM!!






19. Aunt B and Uncle Bill not breaking their necks trying to be in ten places at once

I was so proud of my sweet big sister this year.  She is always so accomodating and tries to make her plans around everyone else and show up where she will see everyone and no one is really put out.  Except for her, leaving her exhausted for the entire Christmas break.  This year, she stuck to her original Christmas Eve plans in another city, and although she really wanted to see us, didn't rearrange her schedule or do an absorbant amount of driving to make it all happen.  Go Sister!  She patiently waited for us all to be together over New Years. 

20.  Alvin and the Chipmunks-The Squeakeal

Just to clarify...this was a highlight for the boys.   Eric and I opted to see Sherlock Holmes with Drew and Ticia instead.  Oh, how we love grandparents!!

21. Not being sick this entire Christmas vacation like last year!!!

Woo Hoo!