The Flying Dutch: Christmas in the Ayr

Another Christmas season has come and gone way too fast but we had lots of the three “F”s as usual – food, family and FUN! I started back to work right before Christmas but fortunately was able to go back part time and still get the week between Christmas and New Year’s off. We headed down to Mt. Ayr on Fri. night so Jeff could go goose hunting on Sat. with my brother. Decker was excited to have the extra time at Granny and Pampa’s house and it’s fun to see how much Nash and Grady are changing each time they are together. Saturday Decker and Claire were treated to sledding by Aunt Katie Ann and Pampa while Katie E. and I caught up on sleep with the babies. That night was spent celebrating my dad’s birthday. On Sunday my mom had signed us up to say the advent prayer and message at their church. We hadn’t done that since we were in elementary school and I think even as adults we were as nervous as kids. It turned out good as the kids even behaved themselves. That afternoon we headed to Aunt Patty and Uncle John’s to spend time with the Parrish clan. Unfortunately, Mallory and Evan had the flu so didn’t get to see them, but the rest of the family was there and it’s always good to see them all. Funny story – we had made an angel food cake to celebrate Jesus’s birthday and had it setting on the end table. The kids were running laps all around the house and right in the middle of running, Decker stopped, stuck his mouth in the cake for a big bite and just kept on running. The things kids think of… Christmas Eve day we spent cooking, i.e. me assisting Katie while mom watched the kids. In the evening we had our Christmas Eve worship service. I love this service in the candlelight and hearing the Christmas story again. We returned home for our soup supper and tradition of opening two gifts – pajamas and a new ornament for the tree. We awoke in the morning to find that once again Santa had found us all :) Decker was thrilled to receive his new cowboy getup!! He has been using a net from the dollar store as his horse Rusty at home and after getting the “real” horse, he promptly named him Buster. Decker was also excited for the new bag of Ducks Unlimited camping gear with a tent, sleeping bag and chair. Grady and Nash looked so cute in their matching pajamas all day and were such good babies. Looking forward to next year when he can open up his own presents! The rest of the day was spent playing with new toys, opening more presents, a Christmas brunch, watching Christmas movies, a Christmas dinner and just quality time spent enjoying one another!