Holidays

Holidays are still very enjoyable for Grandma Doris. Although, she doesn't do nearly as much to prepare or even celebrate...she just emits TONS of Christmas spirit. A few Christmas' ago, when she gave out presents (Reminder: She has 10 kids, tons of grandchildren, and plenty of great grandchildren!) my mom asked my sister and I to go over there to help her sort through. It was a mess! She had 3 presents for one person, none for others, and just a lot of stuff spread out in her bedroom. That is when we knew that was her last Christmas of giving. Every Christmas she will say I still haven't bought a present or Christmas cards, as she watches me wrap them or write them out. Last year I did have her sign a bunch, but it was absolutely way too confusing for her. This year my mom is having her send just to her siblings and children. I know I speak for all the grandchildren when I say, don't even worry about a card for us, we'll have plenty from everyone else! But, everyday I remind her she is getting cards out soon or I'll just tell her she already did. Whichever rolls off my tongue first! Since my decorations have been up, she will go around at least 5 times a day admiring it all. Then she starts to sing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." Every. Single. Time. I laugh and sometimes even finish the song lyrics for her. This Christmas she is spending it in New York with a few of her children and their families. She will be beyond excited to go back up to New York for another holiday. Every time I tell her she is spending it with Aunt Stephanie, she giggles and says "Oooooh, good. She gives good presents!" Yep, are you thinking what I'm thinking? After all those years of giving, giving, giving, to her children and their families...she is back to enjoying the other end of Christmas magic, receiving gifts! That inner child that was hiding inside her all those years of baking DOZENS of cookies, and sending cards, and picking out gifts has finally made her way back out to enjoy the FUNNER (yes, i said "funner"...don't care) side of Christmas. I have proof that she did an amazing job as a mother and grandmother for years and years. From our family group on Facebook, my aunt wrote a post asking for memories of grandma and Christmas, there were over 200 comments written by aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Here are just a few: "Mom used to make bows for other peoples presents that looked like poinsettias and she made origami stars." "Construction paper chain going around the family room. Christmas cards stuck in the molding." "Mom always working so hard on making Christmas the absolute best for us and by the end of the day she looked it...BUT that's what moms do and she succeeded." "Just Christmas with the family, kids table and graduating to the grown up table..." "Mom wanted long needles and dad wanted short...Dad usually won." "Searching for our Christmas presents mom would hide in the cellar, way in the back in the dark corner with the yucky jars." "Moms lacies, pixies, and spritz..." "I remember the cousins going door to door singing christmas carols...how cool." "Sitting at the top of the steps waiting to come downstairs!" You see it's not just about this coming Christmas and her not knowing when it is or what she is doing. It's about all those Christmas memories she made for her family...that's what Christmas is all about. Here is a classic Puente Christmas picture below: