Gutoski-James Family Fun: Christmas 2015

This year was another great Christmas, with not much out of the ordinary to report. The kids got lots of presents and loved them all. Grandma James made Darwyn her first nightgown and now she wears nothing but nightgowns if she can help it. Aunty Lo visited this year and gave Max a stunt camera which has been a massive hit. Max loves taking pictures and videos. We may need to make a post dedicated to his work. Max also got a Circuits Jr. kit from Aunt Sue which was a big success. He has been going crazy wiring things himself and trying to connect the kit to odds and sods he finds around the house. My most heartwarming Christmas moment, though, was when Max gave me a big hug and said "Mom, thanks for giving us baby Ada."

The kids were very excited this year about making gifts for others. Darwyn especially went crazy making pictures everyday for someone new and wrapping them. The best one was for Aunty Sue. On Christmas morning she received an entire stack of papers from Darwyn, some with a line scribbled here or there. "It's the materials for a paper house," Darwyn announced proudly as Sue stared at the papers in confusion.

It reminded me of when I was a kid and drew a picture for my dad of his childhood home. I've recounted the story already in a previous Christmas post, but inevitably it always comes up at Christmas because it is so memorable for me...and because James girls like to tell the same stories again and again. This year was no exception.

"I remember the picture." Dad said after we discussed the story yet again. " I still have it. It was a nice drawing."

"Not nice enough that you recognized it as your childhood home," I said sulkily.

"No...I didn't recognize it....especially because the picture you drew it from was actually a picture of the neighbor's barn." It's been twenty years since that picture and only now do I learn that my father grew up in a barn. It explains a lot of things.

Besides the usual Christmases with our families we also went to Gus's mom's extended family Christmas get together. This is hosted each year by Max, Dar and Ada's great grandmother Kuntz. This year's party was the first time she had met Ada. She sat on a chair holding her while Max looked on proudly (he loves to show Ada off). Great Grandma hugged Ada close and said "Oh I could just keep you."

Max looked at her solemnly. "I don't think that is a good idea. Soon you will be dead."

Errr... Merry Christmas!