We got into Spokane and Cirdan's parents were waiting at the airport with the car that we rented. Then we headed to their house to unload our stuff. Since we couldn't take any wrapped presents with us on the plane we had to wrap all of our presents on Christmas Eve, the day we arrived. We also didn't buy any stocking stuffers so we needed to go take a quick trip to the store to buy some small things. In Cirdan's family each year one of the kids are in charge of an activity that everyone will be doing that year (ie gift card exchange, present exchange or a service project). This year Emily was in charge and she wanted to do something service related. Galade helped her set up an activity at the hospital for all the "older" kids (Charlie, Kim, Galade, Emily, Cirdan and I...Andy had to work). Cirdan and I hurried up, wrapped some presents and ran some errands and then met them at the hospital. The project was going to be helping the kids at the hospital that wanted to decorate cookies. When we got there we realized with the rules of the Hospital in regards to the swine flu that it would work out best to make decorating kits. Galade and Emily got us started putting the decorating kits together to deliver to the different floors of the hospital. There were also some people from Richard and Sue's ward who came with their guitar, some other small instruments and their singing voices.
Okay...so a moment of truth. I wasn't looking forward to this project. I don't like hospitals. They make me nervous and I get a lot of anxiety even thinking about being in one. But I did it and I am so thankful I did. It was such a cool experience. There was a little boy who came down with his dad. The boy was I think 4? He had been in the hospital because he had a hole burst in his intestine. He was rushed to the hospital for surgery. Scary stuff. His dad was there with him mentioned that he sings and this year he wasn't able to because he had been in the hospital with his son. They stayed for about 6 songs and the dad even borrowed the guitar and played a song or 2. The little boy was so shy and cute. It was good to be there. Even just seeing that 1 family touched by us being there.
Afterwards, we headed back to Cirdan's parents house and got ready for dinner. Sue and Richard made some really yummy food, as usual. We ate ham, turkey and prime rib, funeral potato's, green beans, mandarin orange salad and homemade rolls. We were stuffed!! After dinner we went downstairs so that Hannah could play some Christmas songs on the piano and Richard told the story of Baby Jesus. Everyone headed back upstairs for the opening of presents! Richard and Sue bought all the grand kids matching pajamas. All of us kids and Richard pitched in to buy Richard and Sue an Apple Mac computer. After everyone left I went downstairs to finish the wrapping.
Ella went to sleep and then I tried to fall asleep but I was so excited for Christmas morning I could hardly sleep. In the morning Ella woke up around 7:30. She usually wakes up between 8:30-9:30 so it was funny that she woke up that early even though she doesn't understand Santa Claus. It took awhile to get Cirdan out of bed but once he was we started opening up the gifts. Ella got a Baby Elmo, clothes, books, Elmo Vtech toy, Elmo DVD's and other stuff. It was hard to think of little things to get since I knew we would be carrying it back on our suitcases. I missed Kaiya a lot and was sad not to see her on Christmas opening up her presents but I knew that she was having fun in Arizona with her dad's family.
Cirdan's parents made one of the best meals for breakfast I have had. It was a french toast casserole thing. I have been thinking about it ever since. We relaxed for a few hours and Cirdan, Ella and I even took a nap. We went over to Kim and Charlies house Christmas night for paninis, games and a white elephant gift exchange. One of the games that we played was right, left, center. We put our 3 dollars each in to play and rolled the dice to see who got to keep the money and who lost theirs. It was a fun family Christmas betting game! ha ha. Hannah played and she almost won! She was kind of mad that her dad got all the money.
The day after Christmas Cirdan, Ella and I woke up and went to the mall. We found a couple of good deals. I probably didn't buy as much as I wanted so I didn't have to bring it back on the plane which is a good thing...I guess. Saturday night we watched Harry Potter 1 & 2. I havent seen any of them and now I'm hooked!
Sunday morning we woke up and went to church. Everyone came over to Cirdan's parents that afternoon for some waffles. It was nice to have everyone together again. We played some games and the kids played. When everyone left- Richard, Sue, Cirdan and I watched 4 Christmases. Cute movie.
Monday was the day we went home. We decided to take a night flight so that we could have Monday to enjoy Spokane. Sue got all the girls together and we went to a pottery place to paint. I had never done it before and I didn't know what to expect but it was so fun and I cant wait to take Kaiya or even Cirdan to paint. I painted a cupcake cookie jar. It took a week to complete so Sue and Richard will be bringing it when they come over in the next few weeks.
Ella loves being a good lil mommy to her Elmo.
She also loved her Grandpa. The first thing she would say in the morning was...Grandpa? She was always wondering where he was or what he was doing.
We had a wonderful holiday in Spokane and we are so thankful for all the family over there. We are hoping to see them soon again!
