2018 was an “off” year for us. The remodel did not bring out the best in each of us. When December rolled around and we still were parking our cars in the driveway because contractors were using our garage as a makeshift workshop I was at my wits end.
We spent the better part of November and December paying sub-contractors because our general contractor failed to do so. The house was freezing cold as our new contractors wrapped up the finishing touches. We didn’t even put up the Christmas tree until less than a week before Christmas.
As per usual, a couple of strands of white lights had burned out and I couldn’t spare the time to go buy more. We made do with red ones at the top of the tree. When Christmas Eve rolled around and we still hadn’t put ornaments on the tree, we called it good and went without. Needless to say, the holiday spirit was in short supply at our house.
Still, old habits die hard and we managed to whip up goodies for neighbors and friends.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to bake with this cutie around to wash dishes for you?
We attended several choir and band Christmas concerts, piano recitals and even caroled at our local retirement home with Jack’s Joy School class (and their families).
This year, I fulfilled a dream of mine to rope my girls into singing an SSAA arrangement of a Christmas song with me. I selected a jazzy rendition of I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and I have to say, we killed it.
Four parts and everyone nailed it. It’s so fun to have musicians in the family. Now I have to get them to do it year-round.
My parents and two youngest siblings joined us for a few days. We cooked, ate, played games, watched movies, danced and had a marvelous time. Despite our delayed jump into the season, Christmas can’t help but being wonderful.