The Christmas Miracle

The Christmas tree finally came down yesterday, after a longer than usual performance this year.  Our tree stays up longer than most people's, as a rule.  I refuse to take it down before Epiphany (January 6th).  Something about medieval Epiphany celebrations really appeals to me, but I always manage to let the holiday creep past me.  I've never managed to carry off the Twelfth Night party that I've wanted to plan.  This year, it was complicated by falling solidly in the middle of the week, on an already busy day.  My resolution for next year is to organize our Christmas celebration earlier so we/I have more time to savor it during the season. 

This year's Christmas miracle was that Peace reigned eternal in the car during our two day road trip to Alabama.  I don't know how I deserved it, but it was the perfect cap to what has had to be our most enjoyable year as a family yet.  For thirteen years, our family road-trips have always included various and sundry combinations of emotional melt-downs, toilet emergencies, projectile vomit, warring siblings, lost treasures, and crying boredom.  All varieties of which usually resulted in the ever un-popular parental explosions of temper.  This year we experienced none of that. 

It was utter heaven!

We even managed to limit ourselves to only one food/bathroom stop midway through each of four 9 hour legs of our drive.  Yes, applause is welcome. Even on the last day of driving, when the movie player wasn't working (it was unhappy to be back in freezing temperatures), the children happily listened to audio books and continued to entertain themselves.  I share your astonishment; and I've never been more proud.

I won't take all the credit, although I did arrange the trip, pack us and get us loaded (John had thrown out his back).  Several things contributed to all this harmony.

1. Fully charged and loaded mp3 players for Christmas.  The girls could make themselves oblivious as needed. 
2. Nintendo DS car chargers. They speak for themselves.
3. A spacious new (used) SUV, christened The TARDIS (because it's "bigger on the inside" than our last vehicle - and because it took us back in time on a family field trip last August - but that's a different story.)  No one had to touch anyone if they didn't want to - and they weren't allowed to want to.
4. Newly revamped seating arrangements - Kay/Ian in the 3rd row (where Tara & Emma didn't have to look at them if they were being too silly) and Tara/Emma in the 2nd row.  Everyone can take care of themselves and Tara is no longer needed to help Ian.  Everyone sat with the sibling they most liked. 
5. A small bucket of Legos.  Provided hours of fun for Kay and Ian.
6. A windshield mounted GPS device (which displayed our estimated time of arrival) and our children's ability to do subtraction.  Also - extremely good eyesight.  Ian could read the tiny display from his third row seat and would occasionally call out the remaining time to anyone listening. 
7. LOTS of snacks.  Cold ham, bottled water, Gingerbread men, Tante's sugar cookies, Hawaiian rolls, fruit and nuts.  Was yummy. 
8. NO live animal action films.  Kay loves them, but the rest of us are utterly sick of them.
9. Great traffic, a lack of nasty weather and realistic expectations.  We told them at the start of each day how long we would be traveling (and that we wouldn't arrive until after dark), forced everyone to use the bathroom before we left, and just generally refused to pull over until we'd gone half way.  And, of course, one must greet and bid farewell to each state at the border to mark progress. 
10. An exciting destination - fantastic cousins and grandparents awaited us each night.  The children have been looking forward to going back to Auntie Gretchen & Uncle Matt Wade's house since last year.  Kay and Ian refer to it as Spencer's House (Spencer is the third Wade child and reigns as a type of Peter Pan to the younger children.)

Wades are always lots of fun to visit.  This year Uncle Matt had a go-cart to add to the fun.  It's difficult to rattle Uncle Matt, but Kay and Ian speed demons that they are, managed to make him plenty nervous their first times around the track. 

Two more Christmas miracles are pictured at the left.  Aunti Gretchen's little dogs (or any dogs) actually wanting to snuggle with Kay!   

And, a giggly Emma moment caught on film.  Emma's been trying to act all surly and cool, in an effort to appear more grown up.  She rarely smiles for the camera anymore.  John caught this picture while I teased her after putting her hair into a pony-tail.