As I sit and reflect upon memories of Christmas, I think back to the FIRST plane ride I ever went on. It was to San Diego to visit Grandma Kay, Bob, Mary & Katie. It would be my first Christmas in WARM weather and NO snow for sure!!! It brings a smile to my face to think back to that trip. It was my first REAL memories of Mary & Katie, we went to the beach and enjoyed the beautiful S. Calif. weather. Grandma smiled from ear to ear the entire time we were there. Bob was such a gentle/loving man that was wanting to get to know Kay's family. Fast forward to Christmas '08... Now being married and trying to balance seeing both the Holst & Stohr family is difficult at any holiday. This year Jen and I decided that it was important to do our best to see both families. I'm very glad we did. We went to Minneapolis on Christmas Eve day and returned to Yankton on Friday. We were able to see Jen's family, of which her grandparents are both living at 80+ years old! Each year that goes by and they are around is a blessing.
We were then able to catch up with my mom (who lives in Ames, IA) and both Ben & Eric as well as their families. I was able to be the uncle that entertained Friday night as the kids finished watching KungFu Panda they were all feeling a little rambunctious. Easy enough, we set up a large dog bed with multiple blankets and they started doing body slams off the automan!! They loved it. We then went to the unfinished basement and had "races" from one end of the basement to the other. After running crazy, Wyatt and Dominic came back upstairs and wanted to body slam Uncle Andy off the automon onto the couch. Next thing I knew, Wyatt was dive bombing me off the couch arm! I LOVED every minute of it!!
This year we decided to minimize the gift exchanging among adults and I enjoyed our time as much or more!!! The gift was our time spent with one another. As I get older I notice how the time spent with family is more and more important. It was a blessing this year to spend time with both the Stohr and Holst families. Sitting and reflecting on the memories and putting them in writing has been a good excercise for me as well!!!
Wishing everyone a great New Year in 2009!!!!
Andy Holst (I wish I had some pictures to post, but I don't)
This year we decided to minimize the gift exchanging among adults and I enjoyed our time as much or more!!! The gift was our time spent with one another. As I get older I notice how the time spent with family is more and more important. It was a blessing this year to spend time with both the Stohr and Holst families. Sitting and reflecting on the memories and putting them in writing has been a good excercise for me as well!!!
Wishing everyone a great New Year in 2009!!!!
Andy Holst (I wish I had some pictures to post, but I don't)
2 comments:
There you go Andy!!
-eric
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas. Your story of the body-slamming makes me think of Nathan, our grandson who is almost 5. When he and his mom came to visit this past summer he was really into the body-slamming thing, which I found a bit frightening. I'm glad you were loving it - it must be a boy thing!!
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