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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.
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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

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