LIFE IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!

A Higham House Christmas 2020

12/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
It's hard to believe that Christmas was just 4 days ago. This past Friday, like so many, we passed around the gifts, ripped open the wrapping paper, made a huge debris pile of ribbon, paper, and cardboard, ate way too much food, and enjoyed a day connecting with our family both in house and over Zoom. And by the end of the day, we were spent. 

The countdown started on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend. As is our tradition, that weekend we officially decorated our Christmas tree. I say officially, because we set up the tree a couple weeks earlier. It wasn't decorated, but with 2020 being what it's been, the tree was a reminder that something exciting was coming.

We started our Countdown to Christmas vlogs and began sharing more of our Christmas traditions and activities. 2020 has been a topsy-turvey year, but we hoped that some of the familiar, and most cherished holiday activities would bring a sense of normalcy. And for the most part, Christmas was Christmas! We decorated, shopped, planned, prepared, wrapped, baked, cooked, and readied everything for Christmas Day. Oh, and let's not forget the Christmas movies! We watched a lot of Christmas movies!
Picture
Our oldest was able to come home from school. The last time we saw him was mid August when he left for school. It's probably been the longest stretch of time of not seeing him, adding to the reality that he is starting his own life; living on his own, finishing school, and just about ready to formally leave the nest.

All 5 kids were together. We played games, watched more movies, ate more food, and enjoyed spending time together as a family; something that we are taking full advantage of.

Christmas Eve arrived, and as expected, it was a bit different. There was the last minute shopping, gift wrapping, and kitchen prep, but there wasn't the usual Christmas Eve services. But with Covid-19 still making it's mark, our church has postponed all in-person gatherings. It's a smart call, and one we support, however, not being at church on Christmas Eve is a very weird thing, especially when you work for a church. Instead, there were two online services (we talk about them here, Christmas Eve Looks A Little Different This Year) which were both great. And while we watched both, it just wasn't the same.
Picture
But we pushed on. The kids exchanged their Secret Santa gifts, we all unwrapped our 2020 Christmas pajamas, which, by the way were a huge hit! In year's past we failed at the Christmas "jammies" tradition, but this year, we found super comfy flannel pants and made our own shirts. Jay created a simple graphic with a Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments that represented the year; toilet paper as the garland, and pictures of some of our 2020 adventures as the ornaments. It was a great way to capture one last time, some of the fun we had as a family in 2020. (Yes, we had fun in 2020!)

And in sticking with tradition, we watched The Nativity Story movie together as a family. The Nativity Story is always a great way for us to remind ourselves of the "Greatest Gift" and his unique arrival. When the movie was finished, it was time to go to bed and to wait for "Santa's" arrival! 

Amy and I (Jay) finally sat down around 12:30 a.m. to watch a little bit of the A Christmas Story, another Christmas Eve must! We enjoyed the fireplace, the lights, the mountain of gifts, and the stillness of a house ready for Christmas morning. It was beautiful.
Picture
Christmas morning arrived. The kids got up, slowly, and we made our way into the living room. It's quite a bit different; doing Christmas with teenagers and young adults. No longer do the kids stay in their rooms, or upstairs waiting, for the signal that welcomes them into the living room for Christmas. Nonetheless, it was still a sweet morning together. We read the Christmas story from Luke 2, as is our custom, then one by one, we took turns opening gifts. Amy and I, always get a kick out of the surprised smiles and faces as the kids open an unexpected gift or two.

With the gifts opened we moved on to breakfast; our Christmas Skillet and homemade cinnamon rolls. It's not the healthiest of breakfasts, but a holiday favorite that we just can't get away from.

With everyone staying home this year, we scheduled 2 Zoom calls with our families before sitting down at the table for our first, family Christmas dinner. Yes, I sad first. For the last 22 years, Christmas Day has been appetizers and punch. We decided long ago that we wanted to enjoy the day with our kids, and not spend it in the kitchen prepping a meal. And so, every year the kids pick their favorite appetizers that we share on Christmas Day. But this year, we started a new tradition of the Christmas Dinner; ham, potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, the works. We even had our famous sausage stuffing. Since Logan was unable to join us for Thanksgiving, he requested the stuffing, and we were more than happy to say, YES to that!

Oh, and did I mention the snow?! Yes, we had a White Christmas! The snow started falling late in the evening on Christmas Eve. By the time it finished falling on Christmas Day, we had about 5 & 1/2 to 6 inches! It was the perfect exclamation mark on what was truly a perfect Christmas Day!
Picture
We've written a lot about fact that our kids are growing up and life is changing. But, it's still weird to think that our kids are no longer kids. We took a family picture, then a picture of just the 5 kids. When we were able to sit down and look at the pictures, I mentioned to Amy, that our kids are almost all grown up.
Picture
It's bittersweet. We have worked hard to create moments for our kids, memories that last far longer than materials. We savored the time when as kids, the magic of Christmas filled the house with excitement and anticipation. We've treasured the Christmas Eve pageants, services, and celebrations. And while the thought was always in the back of our minds, back then, Christmas was all about having fun with our kids. But now, our kids are on the verge of adulthood, and that thought in the back of our minds is now an impending reality, our kids have grown up.

Some of our traditions have changed. This is the first year we haven't read Jothem's Journey, an Advent staple in our house for more than 10 years. There were no cookies left for Santa. No reindeer feed on the front lawn. And with Covid, we either skipped or postponed a small handful of traditions that we weren't able to do this year. Life is changing. We've acknowledged it. We knew it was coming. And while we think we might be ready for it, it still hurts a little.

Now we find ourselves saying things like, "when the grandkids come, we can do..." Grandkids?! Really? No, not really.

This Christmas was sweet, one that I'm glad we've captured for the vlog. Having those memories available on video is something we will never regret doing. Frozen in time, precious keepsakes we'll cherish, and be able to look back on and remember.

Christmas 2020. It was a good one; a really good one. But even as I type this, I'm thinking, Christmas isn't really over till January 6th, so...

Merry Christmas!

- the higham family

Watch our 2020 Christmas Special!


Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Thanks for taking the time to read The Higham Family Blog. Each week we try to share new content about something we are learning, something we love, or something to offer encouragement to the family. We love to hear from our readers, so please share your thought in the comment section of each post.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    DISCLOSURE
Copyright
The content, pictures, and graphics, unless otherwise noted, are the sole property of LifeintheHighamHouse.com. You are free to use a graphic as long as it links back to the original post. You may not edit, crop, in anyway modify or change, remove watermarks or logos, without written permission from LifeintheHighamHouse.com.  Materials that are offered as free resources are made available for you to download for personal use only. Please see to the specific requirements of the individual item. 
DISCLOSURE
LifeintheHighamHouse.com
Copyright © 2013-2022
All rights Reserved.
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!