Christmas without Ben

Christmas time was not the same without Ben. We did have a good time and the kids did say that this was the best Christmas ever, except for Ben being gone. December was extremely busy as usual. For some reason I like to make gifts for most people. I told myself that this year it would be much easier to just buy them-but of course, I couldn't. I also helped a few of my friends make gifts for their in-laws. It was a bit crazy! We pulled taffy with the Mickelsons. They liked it so much, we did it twice. I guess I have had so much of it, that it's not really a big deal to me anymore. It is fun however, and it is a tradition that will will definately keep forever!

It was a little difficult getting super excited for Christmas. I tried to, for the kids sake. Holidays are just so much better when Ben is around. He is the life of the party and everyone missed him this year. The kids wanted to spend Christmas in Utah, so I borrowed the Mickelsons trailer and loaded it up with gifts. The kids gifts were large this year, so it was a must to have the extra space.

I decided to do the twelve days of Christmas for Ben this year. I probably sent 6 or 7 packages. Some of the gifts that I sent were, "The Christmas Story" movie (one of Ben's favorites and one of my least favorites). I sent popcorn and a large bag of M&M's to go with it. I sent him a small nativity, Homemade Chex mix (my Grandma Karlynn's specialty), taffy that we pulled, hot cocoa with different add-ins and a cocomotion. The cocomotion has been a hit. Ben said all of the guys were teasing him about it, until they tried some hot chocolate made in it. Apparently, they make it up quite often and they call it the "cocoa mo"! The best gift I sent him this year was a pair of running shoes. A few years ago, I bought Ben some nike running shoes. They were a royal blue color with a rather bight yellow nike swoop. They were great running shoes and Ben had them for a couple of years. He not only ran with them, but wore them as an everyday casual shoe. He definately got his use out of them. We had looked for another pair just like them a few times, but they are now considered an old model. We couldn't find them anywhere. A few days before he left, we looked for some running shoes and he couldn't find the right pair, so he didn't get any. About a month after he left, the kids and I were in Sports Authority getting some basketball shoes for the twins. I turned around and there on the clearance isle right in front of me at eye level were a pair of running shoes-THE running shoes. I picked them up and they were his exact size. It was as though the shoes were glowing. It was crazy! The kids all yelled, "those are Dad's shoes"! I scanned the entire isle and they were the only pair! We were so excited to buy them for him. That day, I was talking to Ben and asked him if there was anything he needed for Chirstmas. He said, "I could use a new pair of running shoes"! I laughed inside! He was surprised and excited to open them on Christmas morning. We also got him a ping pong table and a vibrating football game that he had as a kid. They are both still in the box waiting for him to get home!

The kids were able to face chat a little with him on Chistmas Morning. The lines were pretty busy, so we didn't have the best connection. Hopefully, this will be the last Christmas we will spend apart!