Christmas festivities

My Christmas celebration this year began by working over 5 hours on my last day at UPS. On a normal day I pull 110-130 packages for Grand Rapids and International Falls. Christmas Eve is not a normal day in the shipping industry and I ended up with over 400 packages. I could have stuck around for at least one more plane, but decided to make my exit about 10 so I could get to Iowa in time to shower and be ready for the 4 pm Christmas Eve service.

The family celebration at Christmas time has always lasted at least a week with my brother, Andrew, being here from Texas from at least Christmas to New Year's. Mom's side of the family arrives on the 26th and stays a couple of days and around New Year's Dad's side gets together. This year was no different except we have the addition of Andrew's new wife, Vicky, and her mother who is here from Mexico. It's been a joy to have them as part of our family and blend some of their traditions with our own. Homemade tamales were on the menu for Christmas Eve because it isn't Christmas in Mexico without tamales. The Christmas ribbon salad has the added meaning of having the same colors as the Mexican flag. The Mexican tradition of having a turkey dinner on New Year's Eve (at midnight) has been moved a day earlier and at a more reasonable time for the Hibma family.

We have done other things besides eat. The weather has been warm enough (for Iowa) that we've been out for a walk most days. Vicky and our Louisiana family made a snowman in the backyard. The next day was so warm that the head fell off. (Or did Calvin and Hobbes pass by?) We also visited the local "natural science museum" down the street in a neighbor's living room. He has hunted big game since the late 1980s and fascinated us for over 90 minutes with his knowledge and stories about his numerous trophies. We've also played lots of games together since that is something you can do without being able to speak the same language. We all learned a new word, schadenfreude, since cousin Jake was rather gleeful every time someone else failed to get a big score in farkel. Another family tradition is working on a puzzle. We've finished the new one for the year and begun another which should take us through the parades and bowl games on New Year's Day. Then I can begin sorting my things for my trip up north where the next adventure will begin.