Labbe Family Voyages: The Labbe's 8 days of Christmas

Season's Greetings!

Christmas is never just a one day event, it just couldn’t be considering the size of most people family’s, mine being no different.

Christmas this year started in Sunday 21^st with Church in the morning and the Mueller/ Higgins celebration in the evening. My day went like this, get out of work at 7am, sleep for about 90 minutes, go to church, drop the kids at their mothers, go home, sleep about 2.5 hours, go to Higgins’, go home and sleep 90 minutes, get up and go to work…I was tired. The kids were in the Christmas Pageant this year with Canaan as a Shepherd and Addison playing Jesus’ mom Mary. The kids did a fantastic job, sang wonderfully, and I’m truly very proud of them. The Muller/Higgin’s shindig was a lot of fun and featured a great meal. Mama Mueller got a good sized prime rib and cooked it like a roast, it was fantastic! Jonny really liked his gift of a Colt Cabana shirt, Kate got some Chocolates, and I got a gift card to Target. Kate’s cousin Thomas, his fiancé Anna, and her daughter Lera are visting from Russia and it was very nice to see/meet them.

Monday the 22^nd Kate and I had dinner with Jay, Amy, & Erin Willoughby at the Liberal Cup in Hallowell. It was so nice to see them and have that time with them. The food was delicious, the tar box cream stout was the best, and it was simply a great time!

Tuesday the 23^rd I ended up having the kids for a few hours in the morning. We ended up watching some great holiday classics with “A Christmas Story”, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and “Jetsons Christmas Carol” before their mother picked them up. That evening Kate and I continued the holiday classic’s marathon with “It’s a Wonderful Life” and later while I was wrapping presents I watched the 1938 version of “A Christmas Carol”. I hadn’t watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” for many years and I must say it’s a darn fine movie from beginning to end. One of those timeless classics that’s for sure!

Wednesday the 24^th, Christmas Eve was our day to have Christmas with the Kids. I picked them from their mothers at noonish, Kate got home from work about 1:30 and we commenced with Christmas. Of course it was over in a blink, but that’s how it is. The kids really liked what we got them and Addison had everything put away and in its place before you knew it! Mrs. Mom, Mr. Bob, & AJ came over for a nice visit and to give the kids their gifts. Mom & Irving got their after mom got out of work and we proceeded to have Christmas with them. It was a great day and it was nice to have the time with everyone. I managed to get in a nap before heading into work my shift, where it was quite dead.

Thursday the 25th, Christmas Day, when I got home from work Kate and I exchanged out Christmas stockings were I received a large supply of toiletries that will keep me well supplied in the coming months. I also got a bad ass Godzilla t-shirt! We went to Kate's parents for Christmas morning and delicious home made cinnamon rolls! SO GOOD! Emma & Caleb came over and it was a really nice morning.

We had to go home so Kate could make yeast rolls to take to Aunt Carolynn's that afternoon. I managed a quick nap. We got to Aunt Carolynn's for 1pm for a turkey dinner. Attending was Mrs. Mom, Bob, Andrew, AJ, Emma, Caleb, The Chases, Krista, Seth, Will, and of course Jack & Aunt Carolynn. The meal was wonderful and we all had a great time.

It was absolutely gorgeous outside, and with the sun being out for the first time in days I took the time to head down to the pond and enjoy the crisp fresh air. I took the time to grab a few photos including this one.

Saturday December 27th - We traveled to Litchfield to see Gram-Gram and have Christmas with her. It was really nice to see her and the kids hit the jackpot with some pretty awesome posters for their walls. Addison got two Frozen and a big Frozen coloring book, Canaan two Star Wars posters and a Star Wars the Clone Wars movie event, The Return of Darth Maul. Mom and Irving came down and it made for a couple nice photos.

After Gram-Grams we traveled south towards Topsham for Christmas at Nana's. The sauce in Nana's meatballs was really, really good this year. It was nice to see my two Gram-Nana's in the same day.

Sunday December 28th - Our official last day of Labbe Christmas, and it was spent with Labbe's. Dad & Linda, and Adam, Nell, & Frederick came over after the kids got back from church. We had some great food including what I feel is my best batch of meatballs ever. They were indeed a hit! It was a really nice afternoon seeing everyone and spending sometime together. I would like to do it more just to spend some time together.