Just Us: Full Circle

Last Wednesday was the day children wait for all year long. Christmas. It makes them smile and jump and it makes us happy to watch them.

We got our yearly Purdum Kid calendar for 2020 and I can't believe how they have all grown. I keep the calendars every year so I can compare pictures and I have to say, I think this year is the most they have changed from year to year. Where are my babies that weren't supposed to grow? They have grown into beautiful young people.

We also got a video of Alex saying "thank you" for the gifts that we sent her. And, a beautiful picture of Emma standing in front of the alter at church wearing the dress we sent her. I went to church with Tony on Christmas Eve. The church was packed and the service was very nice. I still don't have a good idea of what is happening when I go to a Catholic church, but it was good to be with Tony and I got to sing Christmas carols.

We had a quiet Christmas, but that's the way we like it. Tony got Dixie a new squeak toy and she loves it. We have already wrestled on the ground over it and it "throws" really well!

On Thursday, we went to Charlotte. That was a fun trip!! Coleton, Anthony and Owen are all doing so well, I suggested to Marie that they have another baby and hope for a girl this time. There's nothing like a meddling mother-in-law poking around your sex life!! Needless to say, I was afraid I was going to have to duck, as Marie was elbow deep in dirty dishes and not a fan of the idea.

Dixie enjoyed herself. Anthony did try to "bwaid" her tail once, but she didn't seem to mind. She did spend a lot of time in the guest bedroom, sleeping. She's not used to noise unless she is making it. But, she had fun watching squirrels and birds and barking at them. She stayed very still so Owen could pet her. He is still a bit wary of Dixie.

Coleton and Anthony no longer take afternoon naps. Oh boy! I personally thought that Mom and Dad were going to try to keep that practice until they were at least 18. They were on super over-charge.

Owen was just perfect. Smiling and welcoming. I love his eyebrows--they connect!!

With new Christmas toys came new arguments! "It's mine," "You have to share," "I had it first," "He started it."

I literally went back in time to when Tony Jr., and David were growing up. Same voices, same words, same arguments! Time has brought us full circle. The boys--one with the questioning expression and the other with the baby face are family men, experiencing the same highs and lows that we did when all of our children were growing up. (Jenna, of course, was too cool to be involved in the boy-fighting!) They marvel at their own children and sometimes shake their heads in frustration. Ah, parenthood!

We were entertaining Marie at Tony Jr's., expense telling her about diaper accidents and the time Tony Sr., was backing the car out of the garage and realized that one of the boys didn't shut the passenger car door to the back seat. A few more minutes and we would have had a large, Honda door laying in the garage or driveway. Thank God, Tony turned around before that happened. When Tony started to yell, there was an indignant chorus of, "It wasn't me!"

Watching Coleton and Anthony wrestle around, fight, throw the football, make faces at each other and point fingers at each other makes me hope that they will have the strong bond and relationship that Tony Jr., and David have. Afterall, they are "brudders!"

Here are some Christmas memories: