Christmas Day 2020

It snowed Christmas Eve, so Christmas Day started later for Diva and Poppa.  We waited till about 10 0'clock before we started our trek to spend Christmas with you and your brothers.  We kept a count of how many cars and trucks we saw in the ditch on our normal 10-minute drive to your house.  We told you that whoever got the closest would be able to open their gifts first.  Oz guessed 5, Charlie guessed 7 and Henry guessed 12.  Henry was the closest.  

We actually counted 16 cars and trucks in the ditch.

It was a fun day because all of you were so excited.  Every gift was better than the last and watching you boys really made Christmas special for us.

We especially liked the gift your Mom made for Poppa.  It was a tic-tac box with coins that had been cut up into quarter pieces.  She labeled it BitCoins.   It really made Poppa laugh.  I liked it because it was clever and homemade.  Poppa keeps it in his desk drawer.

Your Dad got an empty bottle with a label on it that said, Big bottle of Nothing.   He laughed and laughed and said it was the perfect gift.  When your mom asked your dad what he wanted for Christmas he said "Nothing"  so that's what she got him.  Clever Mom.

My favorite gift was from your parents and your Aunts and Uncles.  It is our family tree burned into a real slice of wood.  It has everyone's names and birthdays.  Our family tree is complete for a very long time.

Thank you for letting us spend the day with you.  It was a fun day.  We love you.

Your Diva and Poppa

12 days of Christmas

  A Bennetch Christmas Tradition. 12 days of Christmas ribbon

 Years ago when our children were very young and had no sense of time they would get up every morning hoping it was Christmas.  They were so excited and would follow up with the next question such as......" Will it be Christmas tomorrow?"   

 So being a very poor pastor's wife we would make a paper chain with the exact number of links till it would be  Christmas. We would hang it by the table and every day we would cut off one link.  That way they could see how many sleeps till Christmas day.

As they grew older we would write an activity on each link to do for that day.  There were activities such as baking cookies, make Christmas cards, watch a Christmas movie, have a snowball fight, or sing a silly Christmas song.

As the children grew older each one wanted to make his or her own Christmas chain and write their own activity. Of course, they never wanted to do the same thing at the same time so that idea was quickly abandoned.

The next improvement was each child would tell me what colors they wanted their chain to be.  I would cut the strips and number them so one child got to be the leader in an activity, another got to be the one to pick out the book we would read together and the third child got a special message ( either a compliment or a  timed challenge with a reward ).  As you can easily see this led to hurt feelings with 3 preschoolers so this was quickly abandoned for our present-day solution.  

  

Now, Mom wraps candy with a  special note inside for each kid and glues it on a ribbon.   It used to be 25 notes times 3.  Each note had to be heartfelt, funny, or what I admired about them. And yes, they would compare them with each other to see who mom loved best.   

Our kids are grown now with kids of their own. I still make them ribbons every year as well as for each grandchild. The tradition is now the 12 days of Christmas. 

I also decorate and make some ribbons for extended family and friends.  Of course the older I get the more friends I've made.  So if you receive an Advent ribbon from me know that you are holding a special piece of my heart.

Christmas Advent Ribbon 2020

Charlie, I love that you are a snappy dresser.  I love the bow tie.  Did you know that Poppa used to wear a bow tie all the time when I first met him? You are definitely your Poppa’s “mini-me”.  Diva

 

 

Charlie, this is one of my favorite pictures of you.  I am so glad that you and your family can still go on camping adventures.  Do you still like to fish?  You make me laugh and give me the best hugs.  Your Diva

 

 

 

 

Charlie, thank you for being a good friend to our Dog Lady.  We still miss her.  You were always very kind to her.  I know you will really be kind to Madeline as she grows out of the puppy stage and stops chomping on your ears...Ouch!  Diva

 

 

 

Charlie, you are the middle child, your mom is a middle child, Diva is a middle child also.  You need to know that you play an important role in your family.  You can relate to Oscar and his interests yet still be a good friend and role model for Henry.  The best part of the cookie is the sweet middle that holds it all together.  Just ask Oreo.  My special boy.  Diva

 

 

 Charlie, Charlie,  my kindest, sweetest, sensitive child.  I have to laugh that you would choose to be Darth Vader.  Evil henchman of the Emperor.  You definitely have the chokehold perfected.

 

   

I love this picture of you.  My fierce dragon boy.  I have no doubt if I was in trouble you would swoop down and save me.  Love you, love your costumes!  You are always in trouble ...Diva  P.S.  I love your sweet prayers for me more than I can express in words.

Charlie, I love my boys.  Thanks for always giving me hugs. I run on hugs and you and your brothers keep me “fueled up”  Diva

 

 

 

Charlie, it was so much fun watching you and your brothers meet Madeline.  I can imagine many adventures you will have together in the future.  Just remember babies like to nip and your ears must be irresistible.  Diva

 

 

Charlie Bear, who knew I would enjoy watching you and Henry in a bubble blowing contest.  Henry is full of hot hair so he blew the biggest ones but you my clever boy blew the most and had the biggest pile.  I love this picture of you both.  You look so pleased with your accomplishment.  Your Diva

 

 

Charlie, I have always loved this print of you and feel very privileged to have witnessed you putting on the star for the tree.  I know you don’t like heights and you were very brave and proud.  I love being part of special moments.  Diva

 

 

 

What a strange year 2020 has been.  I am proud of you for doing your best and getting all your work done from home in a timely manner.  You inspire me to always do my best.  Diva

 

 

 

 

Charlie, how much do I love you?  To the moon and back again.  YourCrazy Diva.

 

trouble you would swoop down and save me.  Love you, love your costumes!  Your always in trouble ...Diva  P.S.  I love your sweet prayers for me more than I can express in words.