Christmas continued...

[stef]
Back to Christmas in BC. Where was I?
Ah yes. Flooded basement. Well, let's just say that we took turns showering up at my grandma's house and boiling water on the stove for H's bathtime for the next two days, and by Monday, all was well in the heated water department.
Over the following couple of days, my mom still had a work week to finish, so I was able to get in some visiting time with friends whom I haven't been able to catch up with the past few times I've been out. That was great because our lives have all changed so much in the last years, and it's just nice to see all the roads they've taken, how God has been faithful, and know that one day we'll be living close enough to hopefully reconnect as friends. And of course, in the evenings my mom and Mark got alot of cuddle/play time with Hudson - my mom and I even convinced Mark to babysit while we ran out for a bit!

Visiting with pretty Auntie Laura and dashing Uncle Kyle

Pretty pink pony rides with grandma Gayle

Grandpa Mark trying to keep Hudson away from the remotes

Enjoying one of many sink baths

 By Wednesday evening (the 22nd), I was definitely ready to see Ty again, though, both for me and for Hudson's sake! Obviously I had lots of help with all the visitors/grandparents around, but nothing beats dad (or husband). Thankfully he flew out that night, and although the plane was supremely late, we greeted him at the airport with eager anticipation (okay...I did...Hudson was fast asleep in the back of grandma's car).
The 23rd marked two important events: my brother's birthday, and (for you Seinfeld fans) Festivus! Sadly no unadorned aluminum pole could be found, so Festivus was a bit of a bust - but we certainly celebrated my big bro's birthday. Love you Chad!

And then came Christmas Eve. I've always loved Christmas Eve, and this one didn't disappoint. In the morning, our little Kornelsen family of three opened our gifts to eachother - and this time Hudson didn't even cry at the sound of wrapping paper being ripped (in fact, I'm pretty sure he tried to stuff it in his mouth as soon as it was off the present). Later on, we went to Vic and Irene (Mark's parents)'s house for supper, and was I ever glad that I pretty much fasted all day in preparation for her cooking! Oh. Goodness. That's all I have to say about that. After supper, it was time for the Christmas Eve service at my home church, something I have always loved since childhood. It really helps put Christmas in perspective, gets me to reconnect with the much deeper meaning of the holiday.
We then went back to Vic and Irene's for dessert, gifts, and games, and all in all, it was the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was a tad chaotic, as my mom agreed to host Christmas brunch, then Christmas dinner later on for 18 people (plus babies). For brunch, I tried out a new recipe for pumpkin waffles, and they turned out pretty well! We had my grandma Riggins and auntie Val over, so Hudson got his share of hugs and kisses and jigs and renditions of 'Any Dream Will Do' (my very musical grandma would sing the entire score of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to him if we let her!). The afternoon passed with preparations for supper, and making sure the house was nice and tidy.

Mom and Auntie Val and the classicest of classic toys

Me and Ty and our festive zebra legs creation

 Christmas dinner was no disappointment either. It was quite the feast (thankyou, pancreas!), with all the many dishes people brought, and my mom prepared. It was a bit of a mix of people there, which always makes for a good time, and we even managed to play a rowdy game of giant pictionary all together.

Hudson and Uncle Shteve

 Then came Boxing Day. We broke tradition this year by doing our small family Christmas on the 26th instead of the 25th, as Devan and Brandon were en route from Hawaii on Christmas Day (well, what am I saying, tradition since 2005 has been us not being there). It was a very fun day - again, ate WAY too much (and enjoyed every second of it), played a little Psychiatrist, opened some pretty awesome gifts, and just had alot of really fantastic family time. 

Jammies from grandma Riggins (also a lifelong tradition)

 The 27th-30th were filled with more family gatherings and visiting, all of which was very welcomed! Mom, Ty, Hudson and I headed out to Harrison on the 28th to have lunch with my grandma Veronica and grandpa Riggins. My grandpa has had a rough year with his health, and things weren't looking wonderful for awhile, but he managed to get a little better, a little stronger, and more himself. However, recently he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which hopefully will progress slowly, but I'm still very sad for him, and grandma. When we visited, he was his usual funny, delightful self, and was very happy to see his little great grandson, so that was encouraging. I know the road won't be easy from here, but it was so neat to see how proud he was of Hudson - and to notice the obvious resemblance between the two, especially in certain pictures. And when Hudson resembles my grandpa, that means he also resembles my dad, which I'm thankful for. I like to think that I'm taking little bits and pieces from my loved ones wherever I go with my boy.

Grandpa making Hudson giggle like he always did with us

The 31st brought New Years Eve...and...my (or should I say our) 25th birthday!! In the morning my sisters, mom and I went out for breakfast in Chilliwack. In the past few years, as hard as I try not to be, I'm always a bit of a cranky pants on my birthday, because I haven't been able to celebrate it with my sisters. It just feels like such a rip off to have two other people that came into the world thirty seconds on either side of you, and not be able to even give them a hug! So I was pretty excited this year to finally have a few hours with my bestest sisters and mom on our birthday.

In the evening, we headed out to Maple Ridge for New Years Eve festivities. A riotous game of "Things", a few Christmas crackers, a little SNL, and a giant (and delicious) smoked salmon later, we said goodbye to 2010, and rang in the New Year...3 times to be exact, courtesy of PVR.

Anton's...mmm...

From January 1st to the 4th, we squeezed in some more visits with family and friends, played a few games of Scrabble with mom and Mark, and did our best to make sure that Hudson got equal grandma & grandpa/ auntie & uncle time, as it will be awhile before that will happen again.

Aaaaaand, by the 5th, we were pretty darn exhausted, and ready to get back to Manitoba and start setting up our new home. But it was all worth it. We had such a good holiday out in BC, with plenty of good memories to last us for a long while. My mom and Mark were again so gracious to have us stay with them for three weeks, eat their food, take up their space, and make us feel at home. Also, we had to depend on many others to drive us all around the lower mainland to our various activities, and no one ever seemed to mind hauling our carless butts and a giant carseat around with them. It was so neat to witness all the love that was poured out on our little boy. I was more than thankful that Hudson didn't make strange with anyone, instead giggling at his aunties and uncles and grandparents, and basically soaking up every last bit of attention that he got (and oh, he got it). He was such a different baby than he was in August when we brought him out, and he will have changed yet again the next time we are out, so in my opinion, this trip was more than necessary (especially for grandma Gayle's sake, I think!).

Allllll the love

Good. Good trip.