Christmas Spirit

Where are you Christmas? That's what I have been saying for a few weeks. I know you are happening all around me, but why haven’t I felt that “Christmas spirit” yet? We have the lights on our house up, we have decorated the trees, and we’ve made gingerbread houses and lots of Christmas treats. We’re listened to endless Christmas music and watched a fair share of Christmas movies. We’ve read Christmas stories, drove up and down the streets marveling at Christmas lights. We’ve drunk eggnog and hot cocoa. We’ve been shopping, we’ve seen Santa, and we’ve played in pretend snow. And yet, still no Christmas spirit.

Of course there has been a thousand other things going on too the past few weeks. Austin’s little sister got married (congrats Misti and Boyd!), Austin and I celebrated out 8-year anniversary, and Thanksgiving came and went. Obviously Dax’s birthday consumed me. Austin had his interview for Occupational Therapy school earlier this month. That kinda puts your mind in a whirlwind…and no word yet. I was knocked out with bronchitis for a week. Austin had knee surgery last Friday. He’s doing awesome and is back on his feet and hard at work as always. Plus there’s 30 hours of work each week, being primary president, and chasing around my almost two year old is a full time job in and of itself. The boy is CRAZY!

But I love love love this time of year and I am so frustrated that I have been more Bah Hum Bug than Mrs. Claus. I want to feel the Christmas spirit, I want to be enjoying all that is going on. There just hasn’t seemed to been any time.

Thank goodness for traditions!

This past weekend we had out third annual Kreipl Family Progressive dinner. We started this a few years back when Jamie and Joe and their family were in town. Everyone prepares a course and we travel to each other’s houses. It is a wonderful way to get together with family and enjoy one another and this time of year. The food is always great, everyone’s homes always feel so nice and cozy decorated, the kids enjoy playing together and the adults love the good food and great company.

We seem to add a new element each year. Last year it was a kid’s gift exchange. This year, it was the nativity story. All the kids were given an assignment by my mom on who they would portray. With 10 grandchildren here, the numbers we perfect. We’d have a narrator, Mary and Joseph, two Sheppard’s, an angel, and Dax would be one of the three Wiseman. The only one left was Wyatt. What was his assignment? No, not baby Jesus (he’s a little too naughty these days). His big role….an animal. Yup, an animal with a question mark. My mom sends these great emails to all of us all the time and for this email each child had this wonderful part they would be next to their name and Wyatt gets an animal with a question mark. I couldn’t stop laughing. How was I going to do this?

The costumes weren’t supposed to be a big deal. With all that was going on I even told myself I couldn’t pull out the sewing machine or spend any money. This was going to be fast and easy and perfect. Well, at least Dax's was. A pillow case, a scarf, a vest/rode made from a pile of fabric I found hidden in my closet, and a headband from an Indian costume and whala! He looked adorable and was so excited. Wyatt on the other hand I couldn’t quite think what to do. Then I decided. He needed to be a sheep. Of course there are sheep when you have shepherds. I thought that would be the most appropriate animal for him. So, in keeping with my promise to spend no money and do no sewing, I set out with a white t-shirt, cotton balls and hot glue. Add a little head band and felt for some ears and we had ourselves a sheep in no time. Look at these two???
How can I not have the Christmas spirit after that??