On Tuesday night, we had so so so much to do to get ready to go up to the cabin. There was no way we were going to get clothes packed, gifts sorted, cookie platters made, appetizers prepped, and sleep. We decided to stay up late and get our stuff ready to go, get a good nights rest at home in our own beds and then head out bright and early to make it to the cabin for breakfast!
Cookie Platters Made : check
Presents Sorted: check
We got all of our stuff done and went to bed about 1:00am, we were awake, and on the road by 6:00! Avery slept until we got out of the neighborhood, which worried us a little bit, because it was really early and it was a long drive. She did great singing Christmas songs and cuddling her Lambie the whole way! We showed up just in time for blueberry pancakes!
I captured her 3 minutes of sleep! ha
Rachel and Kim brought sugar cookies to decorate and invited all of us to help after breakfast was cleaned up! Of course, Avery was all over that!
Then we had lunch, and set off into the woods to cut the perfect tree. This is a tradition that goes back as long as I can remember. Usually, we would cut the tree in the dark, using flashlights to guide the way. We would walk until we were all freezing and then pick the closest tree. We used a big saw, and took turns pulling and pushing until the tree tipped over! This year, since Avery is the only little one there, we cut the tree before nap time! :) Avery even helped Brandon carry it back to the cabin! We got it all set up and waited to decorate it until after church.
Avery had the hardest time falling asleep, she could hear everyone having fun and laughing, she didn't want to be missing out. I went in and snuggled with her... we were both out cold in about 2 minutes! While we were sleeping the boys went to The Black and Orange bowling ally for their Annual Nutcracker what-ever-they-call-it. Basically, they drink a lot, bowl one game, and the loser has to sit on the ball return and get their nuts cracked. Yes, I know... why?!? Who knows! But they always have a good time and bring back funny stories, so this year my Dad was the loser (last year I think he was too). They have a movie of him sitting on the ball return... they are ridiculous! Enough about that!
Anyway, church was at 4:30, we had to leave the cabin around 4... I tired waking Avery up for 30 minutes with no luck... so Brandon offered to switch places with me so I could join my family for church and he could take a nap (since he would be driving home late, I thought it was a great idea). The church service was beautiful, and the pastor was elated to see all of us Okerstrom's filling the pews. We got so many, hugs and thank-you's, it was so nice to be back and know that everyone was still thinking of my Grandma and Grandpa.
(This was last year's photo of our Cabin Church, no snow this year!)
After church, we decorated the tree, had our appetizer dinner, played some Christmas trivia, then Santa (Teddy) came! Santa was GREAT this year, and Avery was really excited to see him! As always, he came on the deck and into the porch with his bag of gifts "Ho, Ho, Ho, Where is Avery?" he said! Avery could hardly believe her eyes! He visited for a minute, grabbed a cookie off the counter and told us all to have a Merry Christmas! Avery opened her gift from Santa... "a Fancy Nancy Doll, just like a asketed Santa, but not a Sofia doll." I reminded her that Santa was also going to stop at our house and he probably saved that for our house, the worries immediately disappeared and she was REALLY excited to play with her doll!
We played our cabin gift exchange game and then opened our gifts from Dad and Vicki! This Christmas gift had me in tears! I really had no clue what they had gotten for us, they never asked for ideas this year... so when I opened a Jeff Larson portrait that he did of Avery I was in shock! Jeff Larson did a portrait of me when I was little, and of Andy too, but he has become so well known and his artwork now sells for more than our house. I have always wanted Jeff to do a portrait of Avery, but just knew it was WAY out of our price range. I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!! I need to go have it framed soon so I can hang it up!! This is by far, the highlight of my Christmas!!!
After opening gifts, Avery got her pajamas on and read her last Advent book with Grandma and Grandpa as we packed up the truck to head for home. Grandpa sent her off with two thumbs up and a "Merry Christmas"!
Once we got home, we unloaded, put everything away and got everything ready for Christmas morning at the Thompson's and Christmas evening with the Johnson's. Packed clothes for Avery, toys to play with at Sherry's, our gifts to give and our cookies to share! I, of course, had to look at my new piece of art one more time before going to bed at 2:30am!
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