Another Christmas season is over. This one will probably rank as the most memorable Christmas Pam and I have spent together. That’s because of having Allen, Carolyn, and Conner living with us, and being entirely outward-focused. Pam and I spent very little on gifts for each other, instead agreeing to focus on getting gifts for our three houseguests. Heavens, that’s sure a lot more fun!
On Saturday, my family came over to our house. That means my parents, Rick and Doreen and their two kids (from South Bend), and Stu and Joyce and their four kids. Curt, Stu’s oldest, was working at the airport and couldn’t make it. First time we’ve been short for a number of years. But then, we picked up Tom, Paula’s husband of six months.
Carolyn had to work, but Allen and Conner spent the first couple hours with us before going to pick up Carolyn and then heading to Carolyn’s aunt’s place. Of course, everyone took turns holding Conner. Mom and Doreen got Conner presents (Doreen made a neat baby blanket).
- Doreen and Rick. Doreen’s got Conner.
- Benjamin (left) and Cameron. Cam’s Superman outfit pumped up to make him look real buff.
- My brother Stu, with my parents in the background and Cameron.
On Sunday afternoon we headed west, toward South Whitley, where Pam’s brother, Jim, has a house. The whole crew was there–Jim and Kelly, with their four kids, Jody (Pam’s sister) with her two kids, and Pam’s dad, Chuck. Jim has a big-screen TV, which made it extremely convenient to watch the latest meltdown of our beloved Colts.
We got back to our house around 7 pm, and then Pam and I got busy wrapping presents–for each other (basically just stocking stuffers this year), and for Allen, Carolyn, and Conner. All five of us had a stocking hanging from the fireplace. We filled those, and then our houseguests returned. Allen and Carolyn started wrapping their gifts. Allen is really, really careful and exacting in wrapping. I’ve seen that same detail-consciousness in watching him put together model cars. I imagine he’s the same way in assembling bicycles at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
So we got all the presents wrapped…and then commenced opening them. It was fun, just the five of us sitting on the floor with Welch’s Sparkling Grapejuice. Pam had found a Led Zeppelin hooded sweatshirt for Allen, and he loved it. She also found a gray Chicago Bears hoody for Carolyn. Carolyn is an avid Bears fan. I got some tools for Allen, looking toward the day when I see him working as a mechanic. He brought his toolbox inside, and we cleaned the grease off his toolbox and his assortment of sockets.
There were other gifts. Allen got me a nice, heavy folding knife. You can’t go wrong getting knives for me. Carolyn got Pam a set of three ceramic bears (Pam has lots of bears in the house).
- Allen and Carolyn wrapping presents. Allen is very meticulous in wrapping presents, easily the best wrapper of us all.
- Allen with his Led Zepellin hoody. He likes 70s rock groups. Good man.
- Carolyn with her Chicago Bears hoody. She’s a big bears fan.
- Carolyn Opening a present with Conner.
Pam had to go to work today, but I had the day off. Allen and Carolyn just got back about an hour ago. They’ve been running around town all day, spending Christmas money they got from various sources. Carolyn showed me a cute outfit they got for Conner at Kohl’s, using a gift card my Mom gave them. They also got a chair for Conner that rocks and has things he can grab and play with. And the chair vibrates. Very cute. He’s been sitting in it, and seems to enjoy it.
