Christmas 2013

Christmas decor doesn't go as far in a small space. Next year I will likely collect a couple more collectibles. We did finally decorate the Christmas tree. Chase says I am in charge of weaving the lights into the branches every year from now on. I must admit, I strung those lights like it was my job. My dad taught me well. And I told Chase he is the tree-toper-puter-upper. I think it's just a thing in my head- the dad (or future dad) puts the star up. Just because.

Christmas. What a fabulous time of year. Busy as all get out, but so worth it. I thrive on busy so the hustle and bustle of tis-the-season-prep doesn't bother me a bit. I enjoy it. The first Christmas party of the season took place at Jeff and Lisa's- Chase's uncle and aunt. They just completed an addition to their home and it perfectly fits all ten million people on the Thomas side of Chase's family. It was an ugly sweater party- so I appropriately wore a darling sweater I had purchased at H&M the week before (the darlingness doesn't photograph well- I swear I am not pregnant and I haven't gain 30 pounds). We played the game "Names." I enjoyed it, but I learned a new level of intensity can be generated when people that love each other want to destroy the other team. Santa came, as always, and I was not forced to sit on his lap. #idontknowhim

The next party was at my Grandpa Merrill, my mom's dad, and Joan's home. That side of the family has gone through some major overhauls in the last five years- some more fortunate than others. Five marriages, three divorces, five new babies, a few graduations, and everything else under the sun. This Bean family looks different than it did not too long ago. But one thing has not changed. Grandpa takes his roll as patriarch of this family seriously, and every Christmas he tells us a story and gives some advice. The man loves. He just loves endlessly. We almost lost him this year. A terrifying experience. I didn't have much time to be terrified for the need to hold my mother together. Grandpa has always had a bad back. He worked in a warehouse in his teens hauling 100 pound bags of sugar. The story for this year's Christmas tale started here. And instead of telling us all how that job nearly killed him 70 years later, he told us how his bad back prevented him from enlisting in the army initially. Later, he was able to conceal his bad back and go into the air force. The air force has been one of the most defining characteristics of the man's life. So of course, he is grateful that 70 years ago, he ruined his back hauling sugar. Gratitude. So, earlier this year Grandpa was in the hospital for months. First, he fell. He went in for an injection to help the pain. He got staff infection from the needle. He had an MRI that told us there was a hotdog size pocket of infection wrapped around his spine where there is hardware from a surgery a couple years ago. He lays in bed in unbearable pain for weeks. He begs for pain meds… that's something you don't see everyday from a man of his strength. He couldn't eat or move or practically blink. He was moved to a pain clinic. Then he was moved back to the hospital because no one could figure out a combination of antibiotics to clear the infection and pain meds to keep him from writhing. Finally, my mom called me late one night and said he was going in for surgery. He was so weak from lack of movement and nutrition that putting him, at age 86, all the way under might have meant he just might not resurface. My mom, Lauren, and I went down to the University Hospital to see him. Some darling men from his ward gave him a blessing. After that, we knew he would be ok. And he was. After a long recovery, Grandpa is now home. He swims, lifts weights, rides a bike, and rocks a cane and a gangster lean. He is determined to get better and get stronger. What a man, James Merrill Bean.

Christmas Eve. We skied with my dad, Jessica (dad's fiancé), Avery and Zach. For a few runs before meeting Mom for a few more and lunch. It's always a good time sitting in Needles lodge next to a giant fireplace with arguably the most beautiful view in the world. It's definitely one of my favorites. Snowbasin means a lot to me. So does my mom. I have a lot of her in me, and I wouldn't change it. That night we spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds house with some of the family. We ate soup and cookies.

Christmas day. Chase and I woke up around 7:30 to open presents. We are the type to do most of our shopping together so the after Christmas returns are kept to a minimum. This year, I got a bunch of clothes. And then I opened a Steve Madden box. Seriously, Chase is so on point. Boots will ever be a bad choice. I definitely did not see that coming. I got him some things he asked for/needed. And A beautiful over coat from BR. Alas, he wanted a down coat instead. It's fine. I will likely buy the same BR coat again next year so he has to keep it.

Christmas breakfast, you know the casserole and pull apart rolls and oranges, took place at Fowler's this year. De-light-ful. A swear, I never get sick of talking about how much I adore traditions. Namely food traditions. And this year we had a nephew to enjoy! Last year we did too, but he was three months old. This year he was excited to explore his gifts! Grandma got him a pack-pack for our upcoming trip. Oh, I guess I should mention that my mom got all of us a CRUISE for Christmas. She outdid herself again. More on that later.

Then Chase and I took off to Ogden to see his family. More casserole and cinnamon rolls (HOMEMADE). Connie and Tony got me the most adorable coat. I seriously almost got teary. It's a BR coat (yep), and I feel like a princess in it. I am turning into my mom… I have like a drizzilion coats and I want more. My mom is a coat woman. We all exchanged gifts and ate and ate and sat and talked. Sounds about right for a Christmas brunch.

THEN Chase and I headed to Grandma Jan's. Grandma lives alone and loves her shag carpet. She recently fell and broke her collar bone so she is even more frail than she used to be. I gave her a hard time like I do every year about the tree that is framed above her fireplace. It's felt with her mother's jewelry pieced together to form a tree. I love it, but how are we supposed to wear Great Grandmother's family heirlooms if there are glued to a felt Christmas tree? Anyway, Grandma is a woman who has grown sweeter with age. She is just as sweet as can be. And just as we were leaving, Connie and Tony brought her some breakfast because no Grandmother of mine goes without Christmas casserole.

THEN we went back to Bountiful to visit with the Thomas side of the family. What a riotous group. Food and presents and singing and wild stories from cousin Bridger and ahhhing over Whitney's engagement ring (the newest soon-to-be cousin) and wondering if cousin Tasha will have a girl or boy (GIRL!) and Grandpa Thomas's grandfatherly pre-prayer pep talk.

THEN we drove back to Ogden to be with the Calton family for dinner. This family never deviates from the traditional Christmas dinner (thank you). I made Great Grandma's pie and dad fried the turkey. It's essentially Thanksgiving over again. We got to see our cousin Katie and her husband! They have lived in Korea for almost two years, and we missed them. I must say, the most memorable thing about my Grandpa Calton is his love affair with his late wife, Patricia. She has been gone for about 8 years, and I don't recall a Christmas or Thanksgiving when Grandpa has not professed his love for her. He calls her His Dear Sweet Wife every time. He advises everyone one of his posterity, "Be kind to one another, love each other, because one day, one of you will be alone." How true it is. What an example. One other thing that I love about Grandpa- whenever I talk to him on the phone, I say "bye Grandpa, love you." And he says, "And I love you Sweetheart." And the inflection in his voice is the same every time. I ought to record it or something. I love that sound.

And finally, we went back to Bountiful to Grandpa and Grandma Reynolds house. We exchanged gifts, had dessert, and watched a darling old Christmas move… the one about the performing sisters and the two army guys that end up saving the old hotel? So classy and sweet. We played Rummi Cube during the movie. That's one of those things that will always remind me of Grandpa Darrel.

And that was Christmas this year. Chase and I have been skiing the last few years on Christmas. It's another tradition we wanted to start. But I guess this year we thought we would drive all over kingdom come to be to every single family member on Christmas. And it worked, and it was fun. It really felt like Christmas. Something about being with tons of people all day that love the heck out of ya just feels like Christmas. Christ wants families to be together forever, and that includes Christmas. So, happy birthday. That night when Chase and I finally went home we read Luke 2. It's such a short account of what really happened. Just look at the novel I have written about one day of parties. And the single most important day in history, save maybe the resurrection, gets only a couple pages of scripture. But I think that's how it's supposed to be. Use your imagination, and feel Christmas, rather than reading the literal words. This year, I felt Christmas.