Home for the Holidays

This past Christmas we were so blessed to have Kris's grandparents Forrest and Beth Meek and his aunt and uncle Susan Meek Melhaff and Adam Melhaff come celebrate Christmas with us.  We hadn't seen Forrest and Beth since the summer of 2005.  Abi and Tal had been tiny then and didn't remember much and our youngest two had never met these great-grandparents.  The weeks leading up to Christmas were filled with cooking, cleaning, preparation and great anticipation of their arrival.

Sue and Adam drive in Monday afternoon and we joined up with them Monday evening for lasanga dinner at our house and lots of talking and catching up.  Susan has such a sparkly personality and exudes warmth and love.  I and the kids hadn't yet met Adam so it was a treat to get to know him and hear antics from his childhood.

Tuesday afternoon Forrest and Beth flew into the airport.  I don't know if they expected a welcoming

party of the whole family at the gate - but that is what they got.  There were loves and hugs all around, and bundling them up against the cold Idaho winter.  That evening we started our celebration with adults dinner at Stockman's Restaurant.  It was  joyous to share news, memories and lovely conversation with all of our family members.

Christmas Eve morning Kris and Eric took grandpa out to go shooting, Abi and Talmage accompanied.  I stayed home to get a few things finished up for Christmas Eve dinner.  Not more than an hour passed when I received a phone call from Kris that started, "Um Honey, we have a little problem...." Those are not the words you want to hear.  Unfortunately Grandpa had a little mishap with a handgun recoiling into his left eye-brow splitting it open.  They stopped home for my quick assessment and then I sent them on to the Community Care for stitches.  Grandpa took it like a fighter proclaiming that his scar would be a great story to tell his church group.

For dinner, Eric spoiled us by cooking a delicious prime rib.  We rounded out the dinner with sides and salads.  It was such a joy to have the whole family together for dinner.

After dinner we took pictures of our whole clan together.

Back; Adam Melhaff, Abi, Eric Meek, Jeremy Meek, Kris Meek, Nathan Funk

Middle: Susan Melhaff, Lisa Meek, Daphne Funk, Jana Meek, Donalee and Eva Meek, Justin and Sarah Funk

Front: Walker Meek, Forrest and Beth Meek, Talmage and Leah Meek

After that my Meek children regailed the family with musical pieces they had been working on.  Talmage and Leah played the piano and Abi played the cello - I could not have been prouder.

Beth and Forrest donned Santa hats to pass out the massive pile of presents flowing outward from our Christmas tree.  Phil, Kris's dad, couldn't be with us this year but spoiled each child and grandchild with mounds of presents in turn.

Sue crocheted these adorable hats for the little girls.

Eric made these beautiful frames for the Melhaff's and grandma and grandpa Meek to display the pictures we just took.  Present opening extended late into the night and then of course we had hugs, thank yous and goodbyes.  Our kids didn't get into bed until way past eleven.  I thought that they would sleep in way past the mandated 7 o'clock morning waking of the parents but Talmage roused his little sisters and Kris and I woke to excited voices looking over the stash that Santa had left behind.

Santa somehow snuck this new TV downstairs and Abi and Tal joyfully played Minecraft together.  I was just thrilled to have them hanging out and not fighting.

Christmas morning tradition at our house dictates a crockpot of Meek wassail mulling on the counter, lounging about in our pajamas and enjoying presents and breakfast with whatever family comes over.  This year we were treated to the Fife grandparents and Jared and Mallory early on to watch present opening and enjoy breakfast. A little later Meeks and Melhaffs started drifitng in.   

Such precious time we had to hug, talk with and love our family members.

Friday morning we all gathered together again for a big pancake breakfast.  What fun! After many family members drifted out for different errands Kris sat down with Grandma and Grandpa Meek and recorded oral histories of their lives.  He is planning on typing them up and presenting to them later.  One highlight was having Talmage and Walker each try on the Boy Scout uniform that Forrest had worn as a boy.  Looks great.

We gathered together again for a fun filled family dinner on Friday night.  We coaxed Beth to play carols at the piano while we sang along.

All too soon it was way late and time to leave.  Adam and Sue were leaving Saturday morning so we grabbed one last picture with them.

Saturday morning and afternoon while Kris interviewed Grandpa Meek for his history we hung out with Grandma.  She read every story on our bookshelf to Eva and entertained Leah and Eva with her puppet.  This sweet puppet got passed onto Sarah to entertain a generation of little Meeks to follow.

We cherish the time spent and memories made with loved ones from far away and know that our memories of this Christmas will warm our hearts and minds for years to come.  

Merry Christmas 2014.