Christmas Eve

Busy day. Breakfast..too much food available! Played monopoly. Dad won thanks to putting houses on Boardwalk and Park Place..except in this version they were named BBGun and Leg Lamp. References from Lauren's favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story. Then to lunch. Did I complain about too much food? After lunch we drove out north of Leavenworth to Eagle Creek Ranch and went on a sleigh ride. The sleigh had long benches down each side which would seat about 8 people. The others on our ride were an extended family from Brisbane,Australia. Laid about the room for a while, reading and dozing and then off to the "messhall" (Lauren corrected me and pointed out it was too expensive to call it that) for Christmas Eve Dinner. More food and I had to push them on table selection, twice, before we got one that was half decent. Lauren did not like me doing it, but she is the one who pointed out it wasn't a Mess Hall. After that, we watched Love Actually on big screen and finished just in time for the Xmas Eve service at the chapel. Harriet Bullitt hosted and we sang some carols, listened to a handbell group, a brass group, and did a candlelight thing while singing Silent Night. I thought quite a bit about Grandma ("MaMa" when we were little and her mother was "Big MaMa") and our blessed little boy who is no longer with us. I also admired my daughter who has matured into a fine young woman while continuing to be a sweet, thoughtful kind spirit. Well, Merry Christmas. The days are getting longer now and Spring is out there with the promise of sunshine and longer days.