Christmas 2008

With so many in a family-Christmas isn`t just a 24 hour event.  This year it began on December 20 when 11 of us ventured to Cowtown-Ft. Worth.  Some spent the night with Josh and some with Anna.  Christina entertained her houseful with BarBQ and Anna had pizza.  Sunday 19 of us drove 45 minutes to Grapevine`s Great Wolf Lodge with huge indoor waterpark.  We enjoyed the waterpark, arcade, buffet, visit with Santa, bedtime story with lifesize animated characters, and back to our room where everyone brought their room`s chair for gift exchange and cookie decorating.  I`m afraid the maid had to pick up more trash in our room than usual but we did leave some of the decorated cookies.  The kids spilled out in the hall with remote control cars and other toys.  Fortunately there wasn`t alot of traffic in the halls.  The next morning was again spent in the water.  Papa Bill even tried the approximately 3 story winding water slide.  The only casualities were Baby Jett 4 months old got water dumped on his head from a tipping bucket on the lazy river, Andrew 18 months did not like the frowning animated tree in the lobby, and Josh on crutches from foot surgery got his bandages wet.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve when 12 (even years are special because Sarah`s kids are able to join us for evening Mass) joined us for midnight Mass at 5:00 p.m.  Father Mickus is afraid too many will have too much Christmas cheer by midnight.  I think it`s because he flys home to Chicago Christmas morning.  Angie`s family ate pizza with us afterward.  The following 2 days were very untraditional with chicken fried steak, a perpetual open house and 70 degree weather. 

Altho Nate was not here we are pleased he arrived safely home from Iraq to N.C. about a week ago.