Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve dawned like all other days have dawned for nearly a week.  With more snow than the night before. Accumulated snow depths in our back yard were just over a foot. I love to look out the back sliding glass door at the yard filling up with more and more snow.  It's funny how people in our area have always wished for a white Christmas, and now that we are bound to get it, they are complaining about too much snow.

I, on the other hand, am more and more convinced that I love the snow!  Being stuck in my house for days on end has increased my domestic bliss.  I have cooked dinner several nights in a row, cleaned my kitchen, organized the linen closet, done laundry, and wrapped presents... all while looking out on the world and marveling at the beauty of snow, and it's power to bring reclusive neighbors out into the common spaces of our culdesacs.  

When the weather man talks about conditions "improving" over the next few days, what he means, in his weatherist way, is that the snow will melt and go away... leaving the status quo intact.  I'm not a fan of his "improving" conditions.  I love the snow!

Temperatures remained below freezing until mid-afternoon, but before they started warming up we had to go out to get groceries.  It has been five days since Donny and I have been in a car. We've been hunkering down in our house with only occasional excursions out into the snow for recreational purposes.  He was beside himself with anticipation when he saw Auntie Jo go out the door with his carseat.  Several layers of clothing later, we were off on our grocery adventure.  Donny likes Auntie Jo's car because it has a Beaker finger puppet in it.

The roads were a mixture of compacted snow and ice in some places.  Not too bad for travel.  In other spots they were slush and ice moguls that made driving bumpy and a little frightening.  Fortunately, Joann has snow driving experience and we got to Fred Meyer unscathed.

Donny went with Auntie Jo to Starbucks while I started the shopping. He made friends with people there by standing beside them and saying "Hi!" in his excited, breathy way while the lattes were being made.  Then they came to the grocery store and Donny got his first ride in the race car cart.  He grabbed the wheel immediately and started shouting "Weeeeee!"  But being strapped down while Mama chooses $132 worth of groceries is not his idea of a fun time, even with the steering wheels in front of him.  He was glad to be done when we headed for the car - but unexplicably began shouting "Damnness!"  repeatedly as we rolled over the ice.  A passerby looked at me and said "They turn 14 before you know it!"  I nodded knowingly.  I'll try to proudly enjoy the accidentally and publicly shouted variations on swear words now, knowing that these moments are fleeting. 

 

Once Home, preparations began for the big Christmas Eve feast.  Because of the snow and road conditions, we were unable to travel to Eugene for our traditional extended family Christmas Eve.  So, we brought a little of our celebration traditions to our house.  Dinner consisted of rice pudding, potato soup, lefse, cheese, salami, sliced apples, rolls and sparkling apple/pear and apple/pomegranate juice.  In attendance were my parents, Joann, and the Shire family of 3.5. With recordings of old family favorite Christmas music in the background.  It managed to feel a lot like Christmas - even without the goat cheese.  

Donny even liked the lefse. Must be his Norwegian roots.  We'll have to get some goat cheese when the roads are clear again and try him on that.

After the meal, Andy broke out his new Wii system and got the whole family into the action.

 

See!  Being snowed in isn't the worst thing in the world!  You can even go bowling!