Last Christmas, I Gave You My Heart

Just Kidding. It's not that serious.

But seriously...last Christmas...I'm the worst with doing holiday posts. I noticed that I started one last year, but didn't finish. So let me share a bit.

Last Christmast was one of the best we've had in the last few years.

Andrew was there not just physically but mentally too. This was a huge change given the way the last few years had been. It was so nice to see him happy and functioning.

Andrew & Mikey 2010

I spent two days in the kitchen with Grandma baking way too many delicious treats. We had the best time! We made everything from puppy chow, iced sugar cookies, m&m cookies, chex mix, cinnamon candy, holly, and more that I can't even remember.

I love baking, so adding in grandma made it even better. Mikey (Andrew's gf at the time) even helped with the m&m cookies. I really liked that because we got to chat for a bit, and since I live far I hadn't had the chance to really get to know her.

Grandma

I still sat at the kids table. At this point it's not just circumstantial, but also by choice because I don't want to leave Marsh there to sit with anyone else. Andrew and Mikey tried to sit there with D & I, but I insisted that we share the table with Marshall and Garrett so they didn't have to sit at the bar together and alone. I didn't realize that Andrew was trying to sit with D & I because he actually wanted to spend time with me. I felt so stupid when Mom pointed that out after dinner. I just wasn't used to him being so -as bad as it sounds- normal.

Papa

We did spend some time together. I think he was working as the delivery guy for the pizza place at the time and he told me this funny story about how he showed up with the lady's pizza and it was late so she was complaining about how they are always late and she should just order from Pizza Hut. Andrew's response? "Then do it." That's exactly what I was thinking, but I would never tell a customer that. I was always more of the rule follower anyway. I also remember him showing me his car. At that time it was an infinity G35 (or something). He was so proud because he was making his own payments. I was pretty shocked because responsibility wasn't usually his strong suit.

I usually help grandma hand out the gifts, but I kinda had a switch up this year. I'm used to Marshall being the only "M" name, so when I saw an odd shaped gift, I didn't even read the name once I saw the "M." Yeah, from the shape I totally should have been able to realize it was a bone for Monster, Andrew's new dog. You should have seen Andrew and Marshall's face when Marsh opened the bone. I worked quick to grab the gift back and Andrew and I went to Grandma's room to rewrap it. After all of the human gifts were done, we let Monster in to open his. He didn't quite get it at first so Andrew had to help, but he loved it once we got the paper out of the way.

Marshall and the bone

quick wrap job

Monster and his present

It was a great last Christmas with Andrew. This year is hard having that vacant spot in our family, but I know we'll make it through. I can't even imagine what it's like for him to be having his first Christmas in Heaven. It's got to be incredible up there. I miss him so much but I'm not going to let that get in the way of continuing to make memories with Marshall and the rest of the family.