My family definitely enjoys Christmas. We enjoy finding unique gifts that don't break the bank. Most of us are the kind of Christmas shopper that starts in September and slowly checks people off the list as gifts come to mind instead of doing it all in one, frenzied, overcrowded mall in early December. And this year was no different with some really creative gifts!
But for me, the giving that was really meaningful to me this Christmas (besides the reason we celebrate Christmas and the birth of our daughter!) was all of the incredible work and effort that my family did for our little, growing family while they were here. It started with my brother-in-law offering to build us a crib before he came down. What?? Who offers to build someone a crib. From scratch. When they have their own list of house projects about a hundred long. But he's that kind of guy, willing to offer to help at anytime and very talented with the wood! He brought the crib down in parts and I figured over the 2+ week trip we'd eventually get a crib. Instead, he, along with my dad and Nate, set to work the next day and had this beautiful crib in Canaan's room before long.
Bet your brother-in-law couldn't pull that one off! Besides the mammoth gift that was the crib, there were many other home projects completed by my dad and FP. A running toilet was fixed, a light fixture wired properly and hung (3 times til we thought the height was right!), a blackboard was built, part of a floor re-glued, a curtain rod hung and 6 different things were hung on the walls (much to Nate's relief because he HATES measuring and hanging).
My mom and sister were no slackers either. My mom made a set of curtains and fixed two other sets (I'm a negligible seamstress). My sister cut a jumpy toddler's hair and reorganized my tupperware drawer. Almost every night Eden needed to eat in the middle of dinner prep and the two of them figured out where food, utensils, and appliances are kept in my kitchen to get great dinners on the table for us each night. My mom spent her last day here making us 4 extra meals to freeze. They did not, however, ever master our oven :) Lighting the gas each time was a little too scary for them!
On top of all of this tangible house help, they were a huge help with our kids. That was, perhaps, the most fun part because I just love to watch Canaan, especially, get to know his family that he doesn't see often. They held Eden and rocked her, they read books to Canaan, played on the floor with him and followed him all around the house. My mom even changed a few diapers though you can be sure my dad wasn't caught dead doing that!
I don't know how interesting this list is for other people, but it made an impression on me. I don't want to forget all that my family did to make our first Christmas as a family of four and in Ecuador, an excellent one. Thanks Mom, Dad, Kim & FP!
