Reunions

The day after Christmas, Romney was able to cash in the IOUs she got in lieu of a couple of gifts. One was for a pair of jeans. Santa did not feel comfortable picking out jeans for Romney all by himself. So Romney got a ticket for a shopping date. The other thing she wanted that definitely could not be wrapped up nicely was a second piercing in each of her ears. We decided to be ok with this but we are also hoping that her piercing excitement will be satiated. 

In the past I took my girls to the little cheapo-mall-shop called Claire's to get their ears pierced. This time we thought it would be better to go to an actual piercing studio, and I'm glad we did. Romney's piercer had a lot to say about all the evils of Claire's. I love the little blue buttons Romney picked out and though it makes me a little queasy to think of the piercing process, it sure was a lot more gentle than those guns that get used normally. Romney's piercer was named Jade, and was super kind and calm and informative, and she also looked like she was paying our world a brief visit from her home realm, the land of sprites and faeries. 

 

She's so cute. And side note - Santa did give her that cute sweater vest and the fact that she is wearing it in public means she likes it and Santa feels very proud of himself for successfully picking out clothing for Romney.

Now on to the reunion part of the post. My sister has three daughters. They are all quite grown up and doing cool things in different parts of the country. Becoming TikTok famous by renovating a cool old Victorian house in Connecticut, getting ready for medical school while working for a well-known author in Boulder, and taking a chance moving to Philadelphia and figuring out life away from family. I'm so proud of them and I love them so much. We don't stay in touch very well, and I need to do better at being their auntie. I almost never get to see them, and it just so happened that they were all going to be in town the day after Christmas, and we planned a dinner together.

It's really been a long time since we have been together, and when they arrived, we were all kind of freaking out about how grown up everyone was. They just could not believe Romney and Emma and I just could not believe them! They brought us burgers and fries from Crown Burger and we sat in the livingroom and just talked and talked and talked. It was so fun. Here's the thing. My sister and her ex-husband divorced a long time ago and neither of them lives in the same home they did when the girls were little. They have moved several times, and even my parents' home, where the girls spent a ton of time, is no longer in the family. My house is the only place left that feels like a home from their childhood. I kind of forgot how much time they spent here - they would walk here after school and I'd watch them on a regular basis. I have so many photos of them playing with my kids, having sleepovers, running around the yard...and so for them to be here was really much more nostalgic for them and for me than we expected. It was actually just so beautiful for us to be there together and be able to really reconnect. They stayed so late! And they also brought gifts. I was embarrassed - I sure didn't get them anything! Margaret sent me, through them, a skein of Maine yarn and a beautiful beeswax candle. Kate and her sweet husband Cameron got us a rock-fact pillow. If you know Over the Garden Wall, then you know all about rock facts. It was really fun and we felt very loved. 

 

 

Just after my nieces all left town Peter and Sheri arrived. I feel bad we couldn't all be there together, though I'm selfishly glad we got some time with just the nieces. Of course I wish we could also have had a bigger gathering all together. Peter and Sheri have been coming up here for New Years for several years in a row. I know it's really our turn to visit them but our girls had New Years plans already and things are just complicated when kids get older. In fact, they couldn't even be here on the 31st itself. But hey, why. not visit anyway!? They came on Thursday the 28th, and we did very little but hang out together. Oh yeah and open present from one another. On Friday we took kids to City Creek Mall for shopping, romping and lunching. Then more hanging out. Really, we were kind of like slugs most of the time, which was great. I only had to throw popcorn at Sheri's head once. On the 30th, which was Troy's and my 26th wedding anniversary (yay us), the adults went to breakfast at this hip new spot called The Egg Break. The sandwiches were very delicious. It was lovely, and no photos were taken until they were on their way out the door later that afternoon.

Holly and Jolly!

Turns out I don't have a ton of photos from the actual holidays of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Or the 23rd. Oh well!

Normally, we head to Crystal Hot Springs on Christmas Eve, but this year that was on a Sunday so we had to adjust and go on Saturday the 23rd instead. Our poor Emma was not feeling great. She got sick just after Thanksgiving, as we pretty much all did. She keeps having relapses though, and was feeling miserable on Saturday. She mostly stayed in bed, but figured a couple of hours spent soaking in hot mineral-filled water would do her good. She wasn't wrong. Those hot springs are just the best. I think we stayed for almost three hours, which is quite a bit longer than we normally stay. We enjoyed chatting with the other Preslars and floating around and watching cousin Lucy get flirted with by a boy, though he fled when Sam started to swim in their general direction. That was funny.

Christmas Eve was a busy day, but even so I confess that I love a Sunday Christmas Eve. I feel like church is just where we should be! Again, Emma wasn't feeling well, so she stayed in bed most of the day. I tried to not leave her too much, but she also kind of loves quiet alone time and just snuggled down in her covers and stayed cozy. We did not attend our own ward - Romney had been invited by Rollins to play cello in a quartet with an organ and two vocalists. Troy and I enjoyed sitting in the historic building they meet in, surrounded by Romney's friends, and listening to lots of music and a little speaking, plus a LOT of crying and hollering by the large number of children in the congregation. Hey, it was Christmas Eve. Emotions were running high. I was just glad I wasn't busy wrestling my own little kids during church this year. I could just sit and laugh at the other parents who are still in it up to their necks. Sorry, that's probably doesn't sound very nice.

After church was brunch at the Buchert's - usually it's an 8am date so we can enjoy the broadcast of the Christmas Eve service from the Choir at King's College. Just wasn't going to work this year. Instead we listened to a previous broadcast, enjoyed Martin's comments on the importance of bacon cooked at home rather than the pre-cooked variety, and ate egg casserole and baked french toast with berries. How blessed we are with dear friends.

The evening consisted of a visit from Grandma Carol, plus our sweet young friends Rob and Shelley, who were alone on Christmas this year. We ate our traditional waffles with a side of very delicious wassail, and watched A Muppet Christmas Carol. We also had a surprise visit from our friends Emily and Raushan, who not only wanted to drop off a little gift but needed a quiet minute of council and support from us. It was actually incredibly tender to talk with them, for Troy to give Raushan a blessing, and for us to express our deep love for each other. Wonderful evening.

Christmas Morning was filled with the same things we do each year. Meet up in the kitchen, line up behind dad, youngest to oldest, make our way into the living room with eyes closed and then Oooo and Ahhh as eyes are opened to the grand sight of the lit up tree, presents piled beneath. We took a few minutes to just enjoy the moment and take a couple of pictures.

Some favorite gifts:

Purple Converse!

I got a new phone with a very sturdy but boring case - Romney did some custom art to make me love it

Troy is the winner for finding this company that will make custom stamps - this got the biggest laugh

Troy's favorite may have been his "Just LeDeux It" Hoodie

Oh and a new and cute and little and quiet air compressor

Another very fantastic gift was getting one of those surprise texts from a member in Chase's mission, who hosted him and his companion for Christmas Eve and send us photos. We miss our boy extra this year. Our last Christmas with him away!

 

I feel so much gratitude for all the wonderful things in my life, especially my family. So much to celebrate.

All the Christmas

And of course we did so many other things. Enough to make me feel like I got all the Christmas I could ever want....almost. Not quite. 

Here are some more of the things:

Christmas with the Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, this year with special guests Michael Maliakel and Lesley Nicol. Michael plays Aladdin on Broadway, and his voice was richer than a river of chocolate. Loved him. And Lesley Nicol of Downton Abbey fame was of course delightful, telling the story of Victor Hugo and his service to the poor and needy while living on the island of Guernsey. Lovely evening together.

Our church Christmas party this year was a breakfast, and it boasted a spread of food the likes of which I've rarely seen before. The most fun? A cereal bar with approximately 40 types of cereal. Our activity leader, the dear Carly, hunted high and low for an absolutely incredible variety of cereals. Sweet Bishop Kyle made a goal to enjoy a bowl of cereal at each and every table there to get a chance to talk with as many people as possible. I think there were about 12 tables set up, and and I also think that Bishop Kyle is no longer a fan of cold cereal. There were also a variety of pastries and breads, eggs and sausage, delicious cinnamon steel-cut oats, and more. Trust me, there was plenty to eat. We all got to choose a box or two of cereal to take home with us.

Later that very same day, I went to the home of my friend Betsy, who was one of my mom's very dearest friends. Betsy was turning 80, and her sweet kids threw her a big party. Betsy has 5 kids, and they grew up in Denver, not far from us in Boulder, where we spent a lot of time together. I haven't seen some of her kids in a couple of decades at least. I was so excited. I got to the door, and Betsy's two daughters were there to answer. I didn't make it two feet into the entryway before we were jabbering away like crazy. It was so wonderful to reconnect with them. I've seen the three other kids more recently, and still really loved talking with them. Plus, Betsy is one of I think 13 kids, and I have connections with 4 or 5 of her other siblings, and had so much fun catching up with them as much as I could. I wasn't able to stay for long, since Troy and I had tickets to see Peter Breinholt after that, but the time I had there was just so wonderful.

Funny story - Romney's Nicholas is still in high school, as I have mentioned. The next dance at the school is the sweethearts dance, not until February, but a couple of people were already asking him. Romney's dear dear friend, whom we call Rollins, stepped in because she is also good buddies with Nicholas. She invited him to go with her, and the invitation came while Romney and Nicholas were together at our house. I thought it was so funny. Anna's invitation poster said, "Sweetheart? (Romney said it was ok.)"

Just before the high schools let out for break was a concert - containing the jazz band, orchestras, community orchestras, and three different choirs. Great music. Also, super long. More than two hours. I feel like that's asking a lot of families, but hey, the kids worked really hard. Romney said next to her dear friend Elizabeth who needed some comforting. So cute.

One of the builders who works with Troy's company decided to hand out some treats...really BIG treats....Troy is now in possession of a gimongous bar of dark chocolate that I'm not sure we'll ever get through.

Nicholas celebrated his 18th birthday with the buddies. Romney needed a ride over there so I took the sneaky opportunity to come in for a few minutes and chat with his lovely parents and also watch him open his gifts.

Just a couple of days before Christmas the three of us took the opportunity to go to a no-ticket-required performance of Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. I tried and failed to get tickets to their Carol Concert the week before, and I was pretty bummed to miss that. I haven't seen the cathedral this crowded before for a performance of the Britten Carols. We barely got seats, and we were there 30 minutes early. Lots of people stood in the back. It's such a lovely, haunting piece. Only 25 minutes long or something like that. A treat!

Most years when we are able to get together with the Mayfields for gingerbread house making we do it as early as possible in the month, but we just could not find a date this year! So we ended up there on the 22nd. We decided it made zero difference, just as long as we got to get together. It was great as always.

Except my house....was not ok. Actually it wasn't a house, it was supposed to be a cute truck carrying trees in the back. I opened the package and found total annihilation. Oh well. I ended up just chatting with the adults instead of decorating with the kids. Somehow I'm always the only adult working on a house most years. 

Poor family of mine. Every day they'd wake up and need to ask what was happening that day. I don't think I made anyone do anything against their wills....remind me to ask next year.

I MIGHT Have a Problem

If you don't know by now what my favorite Christmas thing is then you just don't know me at all. Rachel's favorite Christmas thing is....(say it with me now)....

A Christmas Carol!!

Why am I not sick to death of it? Why? I do not understand. I absolutely gorge myself on this tale every year and I'm never over it. And this year? Well....It was worse than ever. I didn't mean for that to happen but woah did it ever. Want to know how many times I consumed a version of this beloved tale? I'm a little embarrassed to admit it. 

TEN. Ten times! Ridiculous! 

Here are the versions:

The Audio Books, as read by

1) Jim Dale

2) Hugh Grant

3) Patrick Stewart, although this one is abridged, which is sad because he reads it so brilliantly. 

I think I love the audiobook better than any movie because the writing is just the most deliciously beautiful thing ever. Charles Dickens was a complete genius. 

The Movies:

1) George C. Scott

2) Patrick Stewart - definitely my favorite movie version, although the special effects are a little sad. It was a 1999 made-for-tv movie, so what can you do. It's so good.

3) Scrooge - the musical, with Albert Finney. I haven't watched it since my childhood, so I threw it in the mix this year. Not sure I'll do that again - it's not my favorite. I think it's from 1980. But Albert Finney is amazing. He was a young and very handsome man in 1980, and he just disappears into that gross old Scrooge. So, this one will not be every year for me, but from time to time I'll revisit it.

4) A Muppet Christmas Carol - what could be better? It's our family favorite, and we have come to watch it each year on Christmas Eve as we feast on waffles and wassail. 

And guess what. We found out that some of our very best friends, the Pehrsons, had not watched A Muppet Christmas Carol! I think they had started it once and weren't loving it and turned it off. How is that possible? So. We made a plan. Three Preslars journeyed to their home on a Sunday afternoon for delicious soup, salad, breadsticks, and getting to be the fun old aunty/uncle types with their four kids. After dinner we went down to their basement where they have a giant couch and a projector, so the movie took up the entire wall. We snuggled under mounds of blankets, where Troy's job was to keep me from falling asleep by plugging my nose whenever he heard me start to snore. The lights were off, the movie was on, and I do believe we converted our friends to the fun and delight of the Muppets. Well, I hope we did. Maybe they were lying about liking it after all. We really did have a fun afternoon and evening.

For most people, that would have already been way WAY too much Christmas Carol, but oh, not me! Our friends the Tates have two sons who are actors and singers, and they were each in a production of A Christmas Carol. We found out about the younger son getting a role in the Hale Center Theater production first, and bought tickets to see it early in the fall. But it wasn't until early December that we found out that the older son was also in a version, at the Parker Theater. 

We were very interested in seeing both! One, at the Parker Theater, in the middle of December, and the other, at the Hale Center, just a couple of days before Christmas. Both were wonderful.

Parker Theater - not a musical, very small theater, very fun, with an especially spooky ghost of Christmas yet to come. A huge hovering black-hooded figure hanging from the rafters in the center of the stage. So creepy and wonderful. This production will always be memorable because we invited Romney's new boyfriend Nicholas, who just happened to have a date that evening to a high school dance, which was set up before he started dating Romney. Since we were seeing a matinee, we thought it would work out fine. But then he found out there were afternoon activities as well...ooops. So, he did the afternoon stuff, then snuck away for the play with us, arriving only a couple of minutes late, then he had to leave again to go to the dance. Slightly awkward and I felt bad for making things stressful, but it was still fun. 

 

Hale Center Theater - we were in the jewel box stage, which is smaller and not in the round. Hale always puts together shows with lots of thrills, tricks and stunts. The Jacob Marley was fan-TASTIC. Covered in a cloak of chains so heavy he could barely walk, with a distorted voice. What a great production. I would say that Parker definitely held its own, though. 

So there you go. I am completely nuts. My family very kindly puts up with me and I'm grateful. I seriously wonder every year if I'll feel like just one or two versions are enough but so far, nope. Thank you, Mr. Dickens.