So, here I commence reporting in on this holiday of "home" for which the six of us were, as implied by the heading, in our own house, and that makes 320 E. Locust increasingly our digs -- our place to "be" and to be together. As evening intermission between Rise of the Guardians and Elf, we did a family year-in-review accented with sipping cups of two of my memory drinks -- eggnog and ginger ale, both of which remind me of my Pap Jones and family holidays in general.
and then brunch (croissants, Nutella, fresh fruit, hot cocoa -- on/in paper plates/cups -- yum, fun, and minimal work) followed by everyone having time (time!) to do as they wish (except no lesson-planning, no FBing, no scouting reports...) The boys and their Xbox killing zombies, Chad with super heroes, Beatha in her room with books, Bay with the pup, and, well, I'm shown here with the dog, but spent much of my time actually reading, as well.
We reconvened at noon in the dining room for Sam's Choice lasagna and bread sticks (yes, from the freezer section) and salad; again, yum and fun with no muss, no fuss...
Next year -- pewter-look platter for the ages-old tradition (new to us), but what the heck -- Bay and I stuck cloves in this fruit THIS year, and did it ever smell good!
Bay helped me with this twisted cinnamon bread (which looked prettier without the frosting, but tasted yummier with...), and all the kids iced and sprinkled the sugar cookies Bay baked (from the Pillsbury tubes of dough).
It it just felt good to enjoy our home. Starting toward the outside, here are
our old favorites that moved with us mixed with some new, fun things . . .
My storybook snowman bought from Country Junction in Clinton when
Hunt was only knee-high to a grasshopper.
And the Christmas Boyds' Bear in long, green overcoat and red, plaid dress. I may have
outgrown my desire to collect teddy bears, but this one comes out every November.
And those childish things have simply made way for different childish things,
like the Owl Post.
Picture rotating issues...Bay's and J's were showing up here only sideways - He, the
"Master of Sport & Game" found at "The Quidditch Fields," and she, the
"Delegate of Social Affairs" located "In the Middle of Everything."
While we're on the Harry Potter trend of pics, here's a non-Christmas, but
not-yet-seen-before, image of one of the two doors Chad reinstalled for my home office . . .
Faint print (sh! it's secret!) "The Room of Requirement." (For muggles, I should clarify, it is a secret room in Hogwarts Castle that appears to those in need of it, and it takes the form they need -- to hide things, to train to defeat the dark forces of Voldemort, or to blog.)
Still enjoying our view of Pittsburgh.
And here we peek into the dining room...
And the reverse -- looking from dining room, past
the mantle and couch into the far family room.
Not knowing if puppy would leave alone the tree, we left our boxes of memory ornaments packed away safely. He did great, and next year -- both trees up and all ornaments will be out to play.
Nativity made by Haitian artisans -- for touristy types, and I bit.
The time-travel watch and lost button that Santa accidentally dropped at our house many moons ago
The lead glass windows that sealed the deal on this house for me in the first 5 minutes...
Hunter 2005 -- Thank you, again, Mrs. Hopp!
Snowflakes and lanterns added to the "Room of Requirement."
A simple craft snowman gifted to me by my Grandma Finch years ago.
He still looks delightful hanging on an old doorknob.
Yes, even wall-cling Olaf moved to Watseka.
The house at night.
Bogey 16 years ago commemorated in a new ornament. We miss her,
and know she gave us every last hour she had left in her.
The carolers of the Finch kids' childhood, painted by my mom,
warming themselves by a "giant," fake votive candle.
Not specifically Christmas, but cozy nonetheless, I've finally gotten our bedroom lanterns
equipped with battery-operated, timed candles so their warm glow greets us each night.
In the fall and winter months, the climb to bed begins, first, in the Lower Hall.
So, it's not the "Great" of Hogwarts, but it will do.
That year-in-review movie intermission that capped our Christmas night...While sipping (or taste-testing) the nog (nonalcoholic) and ale (ginger), we had a family meeting to discuss first our positive memories and personal triumphs of the year, and then we saved them in our new pensieve, of course.
(Celophane bag with sparkly paper and picture of the pensieve from the HP films; not my most impressive creation, but it did the trick.)
And we also shared our greatest personal challenges of 2015
before letting them burn away in the bowl of gold and fire.
Lastly, Dumbledore left challenges and supports for each of the kids.
One child was encouraged to hold his sense of truth (honesty with self and recognition of others' truths) even in the approaching, trying times of the teen years. Another was coaxed to be continuously mindful of how and when best to use his nurturing skills so as always to empower with his thoughtfulness. One of the girl children was challenged to seek freedom from the past and self-protection to live fully in the joy of the present, and the other was nudged to continue awareness of gratitude even while living her habit of imagining new possibilities in every day and hour. They were prophesied to "do great things for the Order" (the good force) once they grow to meet their individual challenges.
With that, we watched that final family movie of the night, headed off to beds, and relaxed with 2/3 of Christmas in the books. On the official date of New Year's we will celebrate at
Pap and Grandma Finch's. Then, it will be time to look forward some more.
