Christmas 2013 at Grandpa and Nana's House

Grandchild 4 came to Grandpa and Nana’s house this Christmas.
He/She didn’t get to see and hear the activities, so Grandpa put on paper how the events unfolded.

Grandpa brought the tree home less than 2 weeks before Christmas. The tree was tall, thin, and somewhat oval, the kind he likes best. Later, Nana and Grandpa trimmed it with ornaments from their first Christmas 38 years ago, and chose more from newer arrivals through the years. The wooden reindeer, snowman, sled, and wreath ornaments were hand painted by Nana and Grandpa in their Oshkosh apartment before a first Christmas in 1975. The Currier and Ives snow scene and Hummel Christ Child were purchased at Marshall Field’s in downtown Chicago right after their November wedding. Many ornaments hung with year dates, reminders of Christmases past. Some held pictures of their 3 other grandchildren.  The tree sat by the stairs with a soft sock angel perched right at the top. In the past, when the children were still home, someone new put the angel up there every year.  Maybe Grandpa can hold up grandchild 4 while he/she places the angel in a few years. Nana set out her Santa Claus statues on top the fireplace mantel.  They looked down over the room filled with presents ringing round the tree. She put her Fontanini crib display on the buffet cabinet. That cabinet is the same one Grandpa used as a dresser in his bedroom when growing up on the home farm.

Nana started cooking before visitors arrived.  Grandchild 4 didn’t get to eat her fine cooking this year, but come next year he/she will smell the aroma and taste her Christmas dishes.  When visiting with Nana on a holiday, look for her to be in the kitchen.

The week leading toward Christmas brought more snow, and the December weather turned into an old-time winter like Nana and Grandpa experienced when they were children.

Grandchild Jacob arrived the Saturday evening before Christmas with parents Anna and Mike. Grandchild 4 came over Monday night with parents Kate and Jeff. Grandchildren Grayson and Kylie arrived just for Christmas Eve day with parents Holly and Andy. Sausage and cookie treats sat out on the kitchen counter. All were gifts from the 3 visiting families.

Christmas Eve day was a noisy and fun time!  At 7 am, Grandpa put on his Arthur Fiedler Christmas CD and woke those sleeping upstairs. The coffee pot stayed busy into the afternoon hours. Holly opened her birthday presents first. She was born on Christmas day and the family gets only a short opportunity to wish her Happy Birthday! Then Christmas gifts were exchanged with Holly, Andy, Grayson, and Kylie since they could only stay one day. Dogs Loki and Wriggs pushed their rear ends up against the fireplace and slept, interrupted occasionally by a push or hug from Jake and Gray. Just as Nana can be found in the kitchen, visiting dogs stay in one room perched tight against the fireplace.

Grandpa ushered at church during supper time. When he opened the garage door after returning home, there stood Santa Claus! And in the maple tree out front sat a reindeer!  Jeff, Mike and Andy surprised Grandpa again this year. They set out Santa and Rudolf blow-up creatures after he left the house. By next morning, the reindeer had fallen from its perch and could be seen ‘napping’ face down into the snow, still fully blown up. Grandpa will store them back in the basement and he imagines another surprise will happen again next year.  Holly’s family left for home late Christmas Eve to travel out again Christmas Day, on her birthday, to the other grandparents.

Jeff, Kate, Anna, Mike, Jake and grandchild 4 were in the family room Christmas morning to open presents with Nana and Grandpa. Kate opened grandchild 4’s gifts. Newborn clothes and a 3 piece pull toy were some first time gifts. The visitors ate more good breakfast supplied by Nana; then a quick lunch, and both families  were hugged good bye. Kate, Jeff and grandchild 4 drove to the other Grandparent's house. So did Anna, Mike and Jake. With family and dogs back on road, the tree stayed lit all Christmas Day just for Grandpa and Nana.

Nana and Grandpa then went for an afternoon Christmas Day walk. When they returned, the snow toboggans were still sitting in the garage from the day before when Jake slid down the backyard hill with Nana and Anna’s help. Nana and Grandpa took the snow toboggans out to the backyard for a few slides down the hill. The last ride tipped Nana and Grandpa up against Nana’s perennial flower bed when they decided to share the same sled.

Next year, grandchild 4 will be 11 months old at Christmas, almost one year. This January, Nana and Grandpa will hold him/her in their arms and call by name. They will see a newborn baby dressed in pink or blue!

The new grandchild will be born into a most interesting world with loving first time parents Kate and Jeff.  And the event will kick off many visits from Nana and Grandpa!

Update:
Penelope Rose arrived on 1/24/14, born to Kate and Jeff, in snowy northern Wisconsin.
We are amazed by the miracle and overjoyed how such a beautiful gift was sent to our daughter Kate and son-in-law Jeff.