Christmas 2011

We were blessed to have Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Dennis here two weeks before Christmas. It may have been the first holiday visit here in Ohio since I have been a Zappe. To be fair, we have only been to North Carolina once at the holidays. It is time to be together if possible though 450 miles makes it tough to take off for a quick visit!


We were also able to spend a couple hours at Janets' dads' house on Christmas morning.


This is Quincy and his last location before Santa took him home. We went to the 7:30 Christmas Eve service and Quinten fell hard asleep! I literally carried him down from the balcony and thre large crowds without him waking up! Until we got home of course!!


Santa and Quincy brought a nerf gun! Quinten said Santa must have known waht was on his brain since he did not ask for one but really wanted it.


This was taken just before Lauren's Christmas concert. She looked so lovely and the choir sounded wonderful. Carolyn and Dennis were able to attend which made it more special,

Christmas 2011 was marked by amazing emotional swings. The first Christmas without my mom was sad in so many ways. Yet, I was repeatedly reminded of the peace that comes with being in heaven. Having an image of mom laughing, happy and no worries made me being thankful that she was a christian and is at peace right now.

Quinten on the other spectrum was a complete joy. His excitement and anticipation was a joy! He continued being a happy boy with the ability to be happy with life no matter the circumstances. His elf-Quincy- was pure magic. Every morning he woke up and finding the new location was his first action. Quincy brought a nutcracker back from the North Pole and that solidified his belief system.

Lauren was with us this year for the day. She left the day after to go with her mother to visit her mom's family. Lauren lost her maternal grandmother in addition to losing my mom so it has been a rough year. Lauren and Quinten enjoyed teasing each other though Mark does not like the noise level when they are together! She received several large gifts this year including her class ring and her varsity jacket. We only give a few gifts already so to to have even fewer and not complain shows her maturity. She did say she received quality over quantity though more than once she commented on Quinten's gifts.