Christmas Love

Christmas Eve at Marlin's (Jim's Grampa - Abram's Papa).  I went up to my parent's that day and made a meat pie with my Mom's guidance, then Mom and Dad came over to Marlin's to eat the meat pie before Dad took Mom to church to sing in the choir for a 10pm mass.  He sat in the car!!  I told him to go down to Hotel Rumford and have a pop, but when he drove by (only to see who might be out) he said it was closed.  So in fear of being struck by lightening should he darken the Catholic church's door (he stopped going during the anti-gay public statements), he sat in the car and waited for my holy mom to return.  It was a nice night for us to be over where we will live for the long term.  Jim and I trimmed Grampa's tree for him a few Wednesdays ago.  He got it out of the woods, off his property, himself (at 92, that is saying something) and we decorated it while he held Abram.  There are ornaments older than me on this tree - made in Lewiston, ME - beautiful in their detail.  Pretty special night for Abram's first Christmas Eve.

My meat pie - with Mom's guidance on the crust - her crust is THE best.

At the Christmas Eve table after we had eaten.

Papa got Abram his first John Deere shirt at Tractor Supply (that is what he has on under his Carhart overalls) and gave it to him as an early Christmas present - so he wore it for Christmas Eve like a good Peru boy should : )

In his OWN room - I changed little Abram and just AS SOON as I got him down on the floor, up came mother Dixie, laying down right beside Abram and me, to supervise.  She loves him so much and always knows where he is and who is near him.  It is amazing to watch.  And he loves her (and Phoenix) right back - absolutely lighting up when either one of them walks by. 

Kisses from Dix

Hmmm - what's that?

 Jim rallied to get as much done as he could on our new house/addition so that we could be in for Christmas.  Although we are not in permanently, we were "in" enough to sleep there (floors in our bedroom and Abram's - all walls and ceiling painted in both bedrooms) but that is it.  Had to use Marlin's bathroom for teeth brushing and at 3am when I had to pee, I went outside!! Camping style - no stranger to that!!  Loved waking up there.  I brought our little tabletop tree over and our camp stove and camp table so we had french pressed coffee in the morning with Bailey's Irish Cream, sitting in our camp chairs with our baby, looking out our bedroom picture window.  So happy!!

Giving Abram a bottle, Christmas morning.

Papa gave Abram his first horsey - first of many, I hope.  We have already talked about when to get him his first pony.  I was riding bareback on a pony Brownie at five years old.  We will see.  He might not be into them, but I hope he is!  Running on a horse is freaking exhilarating. 

Christmas morning - Jim, Abram and Papa

Christmas Evening at my sister's house in Poland.  She made an absolutely amazing meal - Prime Rib, mushroom casserole, brussel sprout stirfry, popovers, twice baked potatoes, and I made a killer spinach, bacon avocado salad to start us off.  It was the best meal I have had in a very long time.  

Day after Christmas, "Bammy" entertaining her little buddy Abram.  She can keep him happy with just about anything - this was a ripped up paper plate : )  I am so lucky to have her to take care of him while I work, and so thankful for all I have in my life.  

And now, we are back in Peru, and with a 40 degree forecast, I am planning a maiden voyage with the kinder shuttle and my first ski of the season and Abram's first of his life!!  So looking forward to that!  

Happy Holidays!