We Survived Christmas

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. It was a good one. It was a busy one.

You may have noticed my neglected blog over the past month. Christmas is to thank for that. I love Christmas time. I love what Christmas is. I don't like the stress that comes along with it. There was a lot more to do this year with the kids being in preschool, so I had very little time.

Our festivities started off on Christmas Eve. The kids and I made cookies for Santa then we went out in the pouring rain and sprinkled our reindeer food for Rudolph. For dinner,we gather with my family at my dad's house. There are presents to be opened, drinks to be downed, jokes to be shared. This year, we were busy tracking Santa. The kids got a kick out of that. The kids were still going strong at midnight, despite my best effort at putting them to bed, so we headed home.

The next morning, the kids slept in until 8:30 or so. Grace got out of bed briefly, walked into the living room, said "oh presents" then went back to bed. Once they all got out of bed, they counted the cookies that were left for Santa. Six were left. Santa ate 5 1/2. Of course he drank his milk too. Then there were lots of presents to be opened. For Seth, Santa left a blue lightning McQeen, a buzz lightyear choo choo train and a camera. Grace got a big Buzz Lightyear, a red lightning McQueen, and a camera. Dora, Tinkerbell and a camera were left for Elaina. They were so excited that Santa brought just what they had asked for. From mom and dad, there were lots of games and puzzles. Elaina and Grace got American Girl bitty twins and Seth got a remote control monster firetruck. It was a good year.

From our house on Christmas morning, we went to Jason's families for presents and an early dinner. Then it was off to my mom's for presents and a late dinner. The kids had so much fun with their older cousins.

It was a very good Christmas, but we are all still trying to recover. It is proving very difficult to get the kids back on their schedule. As I type this, it is 11:00 at night, and Elaina is still up in her room.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Waiting for Santa

It's that time of year! One that's been waited for all year long. The little ones can't wait until Santa comes on Christmas Eve. They have made their lists, checked them twice and delivered them to Santa. They have stopped at every Santa they see to make sure they verbalize their lists! Grace wants a big Buzz Lightyear from Target. Seth wants a blue Lightning McQueen. Elaina wants a Dora. Hopefully Santa has seen all the times they have been kind and well behaved!

The reindeer food is made, cookies are in the oven. We will be tracking Santa's sleigh tonight as they anxiously await his arrival. I know they will be fast asleep when he comes and it will break their hearts to miss him!

On a more personal note, there comes a time in an adults life when Christmas just isn't the same. The excitement disappears and it becomes almost like another day. Then you have kids and you feel like a child again. Living vicariously through them, through their excitment and their squeals of delight. There is almost nothing better than that!

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas full of time spent with those that you love and cherish the most.