Christmas & New Year's Eve in Orange Grove

Well, as the week wore on, we were planning to go to Orange Grove on Friday to celebrate Christmas with the Seidel's and attend New Year's with the Powell's and their extended family, as we have done in other years. But, Everly was just not getting better. 2 weeks before Christmas, Atticus had a little strange stomach bug that involved bathroom issues (TMI I know). But, it lasted a couple of days and he was done. Then, a week later, Grace got the same thing but it lasted a day or so and then she was ok. Then, we went a few days longer and everyone was healthy so we went to Sanger for Christmas. Then, Christmas Eve came and Everly got sick. And she stayed sick. ALL WEEK LONG. Hers was an inconsistent combo of throwing up and having bathroom issues - really terrible ones. She was just sick. She spent the week on the couch trying to feel good but just sick and we really didn't know what to do to make her better. We washed lots of crib sheets, tried to keep her hydrated and just waited it out. With all of this happening, by Thursday, we decided to delay leaving by one day. And then, by Friday afternoon, we decided we could not all go to Orange Grove. We were not seeing an end in sight for this bug. So, Vic, Atticus and Grace went to Orange Grove Saturday morning. By Sunday, of course, we start seeing improvement in Everly and by the time they got back on January 1st, she was all better. While in Orange Grove, they opened presents, practiced shooting cans, picked satsumas, spent time with family and played with Keller, and went to the Brown's (Mandee's family's farm) and spent New Year's Eve and did fireworks. It was a good New Year's for them, but it would not have been fun having a sick Everly on the trip. So, I was glad to stay home with my little girls and get her better.

Orange Grove Dove Fry

This past weekend when Norah was born, Vic had already planned to go to Orange Grove with Atticus and Grace for the annual Dove Fry weekend. We've been before. Basically, they hunt dove in the morning and then throw a dove fry that night with lots of friends. It was too soon for us to travel with all 4 kids, but Vic knew the big kids would have fun and be easy for him to take. They spent time playing yahtzee with Janice, checking out the deer blind with Steve, playing with Keller, playing with Beck and Ben, visiting Granny Liz, and then finally going out to Joe & Cassie's for the dove fry and playing and visiting with everyone. The funniest part is that between all of these families (Powell's, Klatt's, Trackwell's and Seidel's) there are all boys, except for our three Seidel girls. ALL BOYS! So, Grace doesn't ever have anyone to play with, but so far, has always had fun with Beck and Ben. So, I was a little worried about her, but apparently, she played and had a good time, even if not with the boys. They took a picture and I couldn't help but laugh at Grace! Her sweet little smile was GONE! She told Vic she did not like taking pictures with just boys. Here they are!

 

 William, Colten, Beck, Ben, Jake, Wesley, Keller, Case, Grace, Atticus

Thanksgiving 2017 in Orange Grove

Usually, when it comes to Thanksgiving (ever since I was pregnant with Grace in 2012), we stay in College Station. It started because I was pregnant and tired and we were always traveling on our holidays and just wanted a little break at home. But, after two kids, we realized how much work it can be to travel with little ones, so if we were going to go to both sides of the family anyways in December for Christmas, we could just stay home at Thanksgiving. 3 round trips in 5 weeks is just a lot!

This has always been nice because it's a calm week where Vic gets so ome time off and we get to relax. Plus, he gets his outside lights up and we usually get our Christmas decorating started. And, Vic loves to cook Thanksgiving dinner from the turkey to homemade dressing and sides. I always like to go black Friday shopping and that's hard to do when you are traveling. So, we always look forward to our College Station Thanksgiving. And, while we would LOVE to host a big family Thanksgiving at our house one day, we know everyone already has their traditions. So, we are happy to just have us as well.

Well, on the Seidel side, there is Granny Irene, her two sons Bruce & Steve and their 4 kids Vic, Jill, Shelly, and Wes. Since everyone has to go to different family and has different schedules every year, It's been a looong time since all the kids, spouses, and grand kids have been together. So Wes really wanted to get everyone to Orange Grove for Thanksgiving this year. So, we decided to join! And I'm so glad we did!

In the past, it's always been at Phyllis & Bruce's house, but this year, it got moved to Steven and Janice's house and it was so much easier for our little family. There is more room to run and play; it's right down the street from Irene's house; it was more casual, and Everly could nap when she needed to more easily! All of the kids played nonstop and Vic and I actually got to visit with his cousins and their spouses and had a few hours to do so. It was by far, my favorite Thanksgiving in Orange Grove.

Because we were going to be there at Thanksgiving, we decided we would not make a trip back at Christmas to Orange Grove. So, we loaded our Christmas gifts and headed out Wednesday for South Texas. Atticus was sick on the way and we decided he just gets carsick too easily. Once we got him squared away on the way with some dramamine, we made it to Orange Grove.

As I said, Irene lives down the street and has not been going as well for awhile. She is mostly physically fine, but at 94 years old, sometimes her mind just has a hard time. She has 24 hour care at her house and family to cook for her and people to visit her. She is one of those very classy ladies who will always be dressed nice with her jewelry and hair done and I just love her. For as long as I've known her, she can talk and talk and go on and on with different tangents and opinions and can just make me laugh! Well, she had gotten to the point where she didn't always remember names or mix people up and just had a hard time getting her words and thoughts out. And, she had been on a mission to pass on many of her things in her house - her crystal and serving dishes and special things. So, we went down to visit with her and choose some things to take home for us and the kids.

Well, it was such a special time. I think Atticus and Grace might have gone with Steve to the deer blind, but Vic, Everly and I went down to Granny Irene's. I loved visiting with her and seeing Everly in her house. Everly, who is attached to me and Vic, talked and played and let Granny love on her a little. She just made herself right at home. And, later Janice said that Granny had not been that lucid in awhile to have conversation and be more herself. So, that was nice for Vic to see his Granny having a good day. And it was just a good afternoon.

 That evening, the kids just played at Grandpa and Janny's.

 

 Steve gave Atticus a bunch of sports cards he had gotten from a customer and Atticus spent the evening separating them by team. He was really into mascots at this point. 

The next day was Thanksgiving. Everyone showed up around noon and the kids played all afternoon. Everly was the youngest and didn't join as much, but Atticus and Grace could not have had a better time. Plus, Chris & Shelly brought their new little dog and my kids loved being able to play with him and lead him with the leash. They played basketball, tag, with toys, games, etc. The adults got to visit and Steve fried a delicious turkey. AND we got Granny Irene's dressing which has become my favorite food at Thanksgiving, because Vic make it every year (except he uses sage which apparently is a non-Seidel thing to do). The day was split between Steve & Janice's house and Irene's. After lunch, everyone went down to Irene's to pick out special pieces to take home and to visit and let the kids play. Every second was just so nice to me. All of Vic's cousins are split between Flower Mound, Houston, OG, and College Station so it's hard to get together. This was just a fun day. I wish it would have lasted so much longer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, while the cousins were going through things at the house, they came across this drawer full of sugar flowers. Granny Irene used to make cakes, and lots of wedding cakes on the side (she was also a librarian) and Vic found all of these beautiful, handmade flowers that she would use for cakes. Look at that detail and how did they last all of these years? They were just amazing!

We also took some portraits that afternoon since the entire family was together. Well, we get everyone in town and Janice misses the photos because she took her mom back to her house in Tynan and didn't get back in time. She will just have to be photo shopped in! There were tons of versions of these, but these are my favorite!

 The blood relatives! ha! Top: Jill, Vic, Shelly, Wes and Bottom: Steve, Irene, Bruce

 The great grand kids and Irene: Grace, Allie, Addie, Everly, Irene, Keller, Jack & Atticus and Maci is in the back. 

And here is everyone, except Janice. It's hard to explain, but Keller, Geoff & Jill are on the left, and then my family, and then Jack, Shelly, Allie & Chris, and then Wes, Addie, Maci & Shelly, and Phyllis on the far right. Steve, Irene and Bruce are on the bottom. This is all in front of Granny Irene's house.

Behind the scenes! Geoff is the quietest person in this family and had the job of making these loud people follow instructions for pictures! haha! Thank you Geoff!

 

And finally, our little family of 5! (but actually, I had taken a pregnancy test the day before and guess what...we were technically a family of 6!)

Once everyone left that night around 7, we put kids to bed and started our Christmas celebrations the next day. Jill, Keller, Grace and I went to see the movie, The Star, and that evening, we let the kids open gifts and do a little Christmas celebrating early. 

It was a good Thanksgiving in Orange Grove!