Skip to main content

Papa Ted and Christmas


I'm off today. I have to get ready for tomorrow. Christmas Eve is when we celebrate Christmas now. When the kids were little, we always woke up Christmas morning and everyone was so excited to open up the presents. However, when Zachary was a baby, I decided I needed to change it to accomodate my kids who were growing up. They needed to have Christmas morning for their own now, so they could have those little excited faces so early in the morning. So, for Zachary, Chelsea and any future grandbabies, I gave up Christmas for Christmas Eve.

And now I have Ted. Ted knows that I call him the biggest dork ever born. But, he is the smartest man I have ever met. And he is so very giving. Three Christmas's ago, Crystal asked if she bought the Santa suit if he would come to the children's Christmas party she was helping to plan and be Santa for the kids. I wasn't sure how he would respond, but he agreed right away. You see, Ted didn't really celebrate Christmas much. It was just another day, an extra day that he got off. He had been single for sixteen years when I met him. His oldest daughter lived back east and in order to not upset his younger daughter's holiday, he would just let her stay up in Idaho Falls and they spent Thanksgiving together instead. So, Christmas was not a big deal. The first time he met all of my kids was Christmas Eve when he came to dinner. I don't think he knew how to deal with me and my traditions. HAVEN'T WE JUST TURNED HIS LIFE UPSIDE DOWN?? So anyway, back to him playing Santa, the parents of the kids were supposed to bring a small gift for Santa to give their kids. It was so upsetting to him when both years, there were parents who either said they didn't want their kids to believe in Santa or just plain forgot. The faces on those little kids when they would come up and ask Santa how come he didn't give them a present and he didn't know how to answer was heartbreaking. It bothers him still that some parents would do that to their kids. But, now it's kind of traditional that Papa dresses up as Santa to visit the kids. This year, Crystal had a small gathering at her house with some friends and their children and Santa came to visit. All of the kids were so shy, except Ezri of course, who just climbed right up in Santa's lap and talked to him right away. It is so amazing to me that this gruff guy has such a warm heart to do this every year.

Ted was so looking forward to being able to spend Christmas this year with one of his daughters and his grandchildren. I think that is what disappointed him most about Randi and Joe suddenly moving back to Alabama. He was so excited to have his grandchildren here for the holidays. But, as he does, he just brushes himself off and doesn't show how truly sad he is.

I just want Ted to know how much I love him and appreciate him for all he does. He really did have his life turned upside down when he came into our lives, but I think he also enjoys it a bit, too.
Labels:

Comments

  1. CrystalDecember 23, 2009 at 9:54 AM

    If your blog is going to make me cry every time then I am not going to read it anymore!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 23, 2009 at 9:59 AM

    Ted sounds like a great Papa Bear. LOL that's what I call my grandpa. I'm glad you joined the blogging world. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BrandonDecember 23, 2009 at 11:17 AM

    I think that turned upside down is the understatement of the year. He is still trying to recuperate from the first Christmas. I am still trying to also. We married into a crazy family that we both love very much.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CoCo's Journey - Purpura?? What is that??

 Defnition: Purpura - noun - the appearance of purple or red spots on the skin and mucous membranes caused by bleeding underneath the skin due to small blood vessels bursting.  These spots can range in size from small dots (petechiae) to larger patches (ecchymosis or bruises) and may indicate underlying health issues.   Sadly, when people see my arms, I get many responses and questions.   From how are you doing?  How are you feeling?  OR what is up with your arms???  My BFF literally said, what the hell is wrong with your arms?? Like I had been out in the parking lot bruising myself up intentionally.  And we had just talked about it a couple of weeks before when she saw it. Are they pretty??  No.  But, they truly are the way I know the status of my health.  Between seeing this stuff show up on my arms and my overall general state of strength lets me know if I should be concerned.   Right now, my arms are actually look...
1 comment
Read more

Day 9 - If You Could Have Any Job in the World, What Would it Be?

I was thinking and thinking and thinking about this.  I have had a very long career at a job I love.  I don't always love it, but, for the most part - it's been an awesome job and career.  I always tell people that I want to work at an airline, because I want to have the benefit of flying wherever and whenever I wanted - so if I had thought about it years ago - instead of law enforcement, I probably should have found a job in the travel industry - - but, that didn't work.  And, I fully intend one day to have those flight benefits. But, I am thinking of what I would have loved my career to be.  If I could have chosen the path of my life, I would have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom.  I can't think of a more fulfilling career than to have been more available to my kids and been there more for them.  My kids were raised by a mom who worked away from the home and spent a lot of time away from home.  I worked shift work, so there were days they never...
8 comments
Read more

CoCo's Journey - Ah, Shit!!!

I am exhausted.  Physically.  Mentally.  Is there anything else??  Because I'm sure that is exhausted, too. I went to the doctor today.  I knew it was going to be a lot of information.  I had made a list.  I had my notebook.  I printed out all of the information from my emergency room visit on Saturday to take with me.  Blood tests.  CT Scan.  Urine test.  Plus, I brought my CT scan from March, because I noticed on it that I have a small umbilical hernia.  I was ready.  And I knew what I needed to fight for. I also came armed with gifts.  I love this doctor and his medical assistant so much.  I took them a gift of tortilla chips and homemade salsa.  And I wrote a love note on the bag.  That is how much I appreciate him.  They both loved it.  It even made Hayley get a little weepy, cuz she was having a bad day. I gave him all of my documents, and he went through the blood tests and such fr...
3 comments
Read more