Okay, yeah, I know; it's February, but I just haven't had the chance to update this thing in so long, so prepare for the barrage of new posts since Rome is taking a late nap today. So, Christmas!! Hooray!! We went to Nevada to Uncle Mike and Aunt Nancy's, and it was great. I loved all of Nancy's decorations... it reminded me a lot of mom's house during the holidays. There were so many trinkets and lights and figurines, it was like stepping into a little winter wonderland. She even had these little elf figures that were just like the ones that were at my Grandma Shirley's house growing up, and all three of us were so excited to see them, and we could remember how her tree was always set up in the little office area off the living room, and the elves (who look like they're climbing a ladder to decorate the tree) were perched over the train tracks, so that the train would go under the ladder. Ah. Memories. Aunt Nancy's house was really beautifully decorated. Apparently, Uncle Mike had to bring down 30 boxes of decorations. I laughed because she asked, "Is this too much?" and I told her that it was absolutely perfect! Nothing is better to me than a fully decorated house during the holidays... mine is getting there slowly but surely every year. And their house is just so relaxing. I get no cell phone service, and there's a limit on internet usage, so you get cut off from the world, and I absolutely love that. We just sat around and drank hot chocolate (well, Erica, Than, and I had hot chocolate, everyone else had whiskey and gin), ate yummy food, played various card and dice games, read books, and we even had a rousing round of Christmas carols once the adults had enough "frosty beverages" in their systems. It was great. And I love when Rome gets to play with his cousins because they just love on him, and he thinks they are soooo funny. Especially Camry. I think that they are going to have a special bond when they get older. And I also love that everyone was there this year: Erin and Rick; Erica, Than, and the Kids; Marc, Romey, and I; Mike and Nancy; Wayne; Virginia and Janet; and Grandpa. It was such a full house, and I probably would have stressed out, but Mike and Nancy were cool as cucumbers. We had an adult white elephant exchange on Christmas Eve (not like "adult," but just the adults participated), and then the adults did a name-from-the-hat gift exchange for Christmas day... but that doesn't mean we didn't go a little crazy with stocking stuffers and kid gifts. Santa was especially giving to the kids this year. And I loved seeing Roman opening his gifts and actually getting excited about them. It was his second Christmas, but the first one he really participated in, and I easily had more fun watching him open gifts than I had opening my own... Ah, the changes I have made as a mom. And he was seriously obsessed with the dog book that Erin and Rick got him, because when you said specific words the dog stuffed animal, named Jingle, would bark or whine, and Rome thought that that was awesome. I must admit that I was a little sad because I am trying to make sure that I keep mom's tradition of reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve going, but I couldn't do it. I mean, I am literally crying a little bit as I just type the title out [and, small tangent, Sarah and I totally cried at lunch the other day when I brought it up because we could both still hear mom's voice reciting the story as soon as I brought it up, so it's not just me], so Marc had to read it to Rome for me. I told him that I would have to start reading it all the time aloud before next Christmas so that I am prepared... some things are still super sad for me (for all of us), but I don't want that to be a cause for the end of her tradition. So, besides me being an emotional mess before we put Rome to bed on Christmas Eve, it really was an amazing Christmas, and I was so happy that we were all able to get together this year.
