Merry Christmas on a (just hectic enough) Christmas Eve

Found this treasure when sorting through drawers last week: a Nativity scene drawn by my daughter when she was 5. Such fun to show it to her daughter!

 

7:36 AM on Christmas Eve. One little girl is sleeping just a closed door away from me, so I’ve tiptoed myself to a cup of tea, grabbing this last quiet moment to wish you Merry Christmas. The other is out in the cottage (which the 3-year old calls “the cabbage” in the same charming blend of cabin and cottage that the 7-year old delighted us with a few years ago and has since abandoned), in the room next to her parents, who arrived last night. She’ll be bounced from that prime real estate tonight when we’ll have two more adult couples needing beds. Haven’t quite figured out who gets what room, where to put the two porta-cribs for the 9-month old cousins, and where the girls’ singles will nestle, but it should all work out, although my machines may weary of changing linen for the musical beds….

 

Pater has been back and forth, back and forth, boat and wheelbarrow hauling grocery bags and cases of wine and we think we have almost everything. He’ll pick up the few missing items when he heads over to pick up the two families this morning. Unlikely they’ll coordinate, so the poor guy will have to make the trip twice, but he never complains. Hasn’t  even scowled over the line-ups and the  crowded aisles at the grocery store. What a gem!

 

I’ve one last gift to finish knitting, but if it’s not done on time I suspect 9-month old Eloise won’t mind too much. I’ve got tomorrow’s dessert to bake and a few gifts to wrap and I have a feeling things may get hectic for a while.

 

But we’ll be together, missing our Rome contingent but chatting with them on FaceTime. There’s a tree and lights and books and music and good food and many memories and so much love (I’m hoping there won’t be a jibe or a squabble or a tear or even a wail from the 3-year old, maybe even one of the moms and dads, but let’s get real. We’re not in a Hallmark card!)

I hope you have some of the same at your house–wishing you a very Merry Christmas and hoping you have a very Happy Holiday!

18 Comments

  1. Lorrie
    24 December 2015 / 5:22 pm

    It sounds like you are ready for the celebrating! How lovely to have a house full and a heart full of loved ones. Such a sweet piece of artwork from your young girl.
    Last minute preparations are going on here, too, with piles of presents needing tags and piles of food to cook.
    Merry Christmas, Mater! May your season be bright!

  2. Anonymous
    24 December 2015 / 6:37 pm

    The more the merrier!
    Merry Christmas, dear Frances, to you and yours!
    And to your readers as well!
    Here is just before Christmas Eve dinner. Beautiful day!
    Dottoressa

  3. Pondside
    24 December 2015 / 6:49 pm

    Much the same here with two Porta-beds for toddlers and four other beds being made up. Thank you for your text – such a sweet note in the loud pre-holiday soundtrack. Our son will come home for Christmas and there are special arrangements to be made. Mum will take her first 'field trip' from care, and come for the big Danish meal. Hmmmm this comment is sounding like a blog post – Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

    • materfamilias
      27 December 2015 / 7:37 pm

      So glad your son will be able to fly out with his family. A busy Christmas for all of you but a very meaningful one, I'm sure. I hope your Mum's 'field trip' will go well — so great to be able to break up that institutiona pattern once in a while, I think. (We used to take Paul's Mom out to White Spot, as we didn't live near enough to bring her home, and she really seemed to enjoy the outings).

  4. annie
    24 December 2015 / 6:55 pm

    Sounds fun if a bit mad,don't burn yourself with the baking. BTW reading: have I recommended Ben Aaronovitch and the Rivers of London series as a great read? Set in London, a mix of magic, murder, mystery and also very funny. Could make January fly by.

    • materfamilias
      27 December 2015 / 7:38 pm

      Oh goody! Thanks for the recommendation — duly noted!

  5. Anonymous
    24 December 2015 / 7:41 pm

    Merry Christmas to you and the family. We have had one squall, but equilibrium has been restored, presents almost wrapped and one pie left to make. Thank you for your wonderful blog.
    Lynn

    • materfamilias
      27 December 2015 / 7:39 pm

      you're so welcome, Lynn.

  6. Ceri
    24 December 2015 / 7:58 pm

    Merry Christmas Mater. Enjoy the memories in the making and the relating

  7. hostess of the humble bungalow
    24 December 2015 / 9:38 pm

    Merry Christmas mater…
    love the sound of your family Christmas on your wee island paradise.

  8. Madame Là-bas
    24 December 2015 / 9:44 pm

    Sounds like a noisy Christmas with the little ones. So many ages and stages! Our puppy had her first play date yesterday (no grandchildren, obviously) and she just wanted to play. Poor Pater with the wheelbarrow but the beauty of the island makes up for the effort. Love and music and babies sound fine to me.Enjoy!!!

  9. Susan B
    24 December 2015 / 9:52 pm

    It sounds as if you have all of the ingredients for a perfectly wonderful Christmas. Merry, merry, and enjoy!

  10. Rosie
    24 December 2015 / 10:22 pm

    Everything sounds good to me! Merry Christmas to you all!
    Relax and enjoy …
    Rosie

  11. Duchesse
    25 December 2015 / 12:11 am

    So sweet… you are in the essence of the season, family. Joyeux Noël from a record-breaking (16C) Montreál!

  12. K.Line
    25 December 2015 / 3:08 pm

    Have a wonderful time, Frances. I'm sitting here, trying to get with the idea that guests will be here this aft and I've got to make tons of food. It just seems crazy when it's 10C outside.

  13. Anonymous
    26 December 2015 / 5:58 pm

    Sounds like you had a very Merry Christmas with your precious loved ones! I am looking forward to reading your future blog posts in the upcoming year. With a little luck (a few fewer commitments and better time management), I hope to get back to blogging again too. Happy 2016 to you and your family!

  14. Mardel
    27 December 2015 / 1:08 pm

    Merry Christmas! Well, the third day of Christmas anyway. It is so wonderful to have family around.

  15. materfamilias
    27 December 2015 / 7:41 pm

    Thank you all so much for the kind words and good wishes. I hope you've all had a good Christmas and are getting a chance to sit back and watch the light slowly growing in the world, while still enjoying the peace and quiet of the deep dark turn of the year. We've just seen the last visitors out the door and after almost a week of full house, it's hibernation time in this house!

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