I stopped in at my house this evening because I needed to grab some fondue forks and there on the living room couch sat Natty, Jack and Andy all gathered around their mother in their Christmas pajamas as she read them what appeared to be the Cajun Night Before Christmas. It was hard to find myself on the outside looking in at the kids that I have spent the last 9 months with on my own. Here the holidays are and I have left them and my home so that they can spend it with their mom. It was really important for the kids to spend time with their mom and think they have had a fun week. Being a bit selfish for a moment, it was hard to not be there with them. The family I have spent Christmas Eve with for the last 13 years was carrying on without me. Weird feeling like I was interrupting my family. One of the drawbacks of divorce.
The week has been fine with Rachel as far as my communication with her. We've chit chatted about the kids and different things and it has all been kosher. She talks about missing the kids and all but I get the feeling she is pretty happy working and living with this guy from high school. I think she likes being able to pursue her life without having to worry about the day to day responsibilities of parenthood. I don't know how the kids will react to her leaving in two days. Hopefully they will be quick to adjust back to me.
Anyhow, the eve has come and gone. Though I was missing my kids I was not sitting by myself alone somewhere. I was with my folks and we had Mike and Liana in from Wyoming, Dave and Dani, and Amy all here. We had fondue for dinner which was a break from old New Years Day Fondue tradition. This worked out well for the adults only party. There were no little ones to have to monitor , help, and worry about and that made fondue a great choice for the meal. Padre put together an amazing spread and instead of using oil we used a broth. It was very tasty. Fondue is one of those meals that I have loved for many many years. It was a fun meal.
We went on to play some games including a carol singing game, an Oreo cookie slide and a white elephant gift exchange. The rules of the white elephant are that we have to display whatever we received in a place of prominence in our homes for the year. Well, much thanks to Bobby Arnold who in 7th grade made an impression of his face out of clay. It is really nice and will look great on my shelf. Really happy he donated that to Deseret Industries and that I was fortunate enough to pick it up in the game. There were some other choice gifts to be sure. A praying hand soap dish, an orange shaped canister, a framed picture of some random kid, a lovely "friends" pillow, a really old mickey and Minnie sandwich maker, an old stamped plate that hangs on the wall and I am sure that I am missing something. It was a fun event.
I put together a gift fir Heidi today but have not delivered it yet. I will try to get it to her tomorrow. Anyway, I hope she enjoys it. It is simple really, just a little bouquet of kitchen utensils. She told me one night when we were over for dinner that she didn't have serving spoons. That should no longer be a problem. I also put together a stocking for her. I bought myself some pistachios to go in a stocking for myself and thought that if she was like me she probably didn't have someone building her a stocking. So anyway, mom pulled out the stops it appears and she put out a stocking for me so maybe Heidi's mom has done the same. Regardless, I wanted to give her one so I put it together. Amy helped with the design on the envelope - just wanted to give her props and mom helped with the bows.
Mike had questions about Heidi and then he had all kinds of wonderful suggestions. Two steps forward and one step back philosophy of dating. I got schooled on being too nice. I think he may have said that nobody wants to date the nice guy - Amy was quick to agree. They may have a point - I don't know, I hope not.
The LBH was open today and we ended up having our best day thus far. It was a good one. I was working on the stereo project running wires and what not. It is done and hooked up. Everything running. Also sealed the vent on the rood that was leaking. Wow, that is one very steep roof. Walking on it was way to uncomfortable slid across on my bum. The good news is that you can no longer see daylight shining through the attic. Great. Did a little more work on some shelves this afternoon. They are coming a long.
Well, I am grateful for the Savior. Grateful for this Christmas time when we celebrate His birth. I am grateful for His life and for all that He suffered me. I hope that I can remember him and follow him more perfectly in my life.
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