Coming to a Close

The last Chocolate has been eaten, the last heart put on the tree. The Christmas play was performed and the anticipation finally abated. The gifts were opened and played with. Grandma and Grandpa were too. Grandma and Grandpa had to leave and soon Christmas will too!

Snowed In

The snow started last night around 8 pm while we were out enjoying a date. It's now 7 pm the next day and it's still snowing. They are expecting around 20 inches. In Virginia this almost never happens, so people freak out! Since we have a 4-wheel drive truck, we decided to go have some fun and shop while everyone else was at home. Unfortunately, everyone else was at home; therefore, the stores all closed and we didn't get to do much shopping. We did get to be good Samaritans, though by using our truck to pull several people's cars out. Actually Rob used his muscles more than anything, because most of the cars didn't have anything to hitch the tow rope onto. I wish at least Toy's R Us had been open- we don't have a sled and we are now ready to play!!

The Carousel of Fun

Last year, I sent Rob a countdown to Christmas in Iraq. It was to help him pass the time, give him a few gifts and let him know that we loved him. He said it really saved him. He brought it back and I changed the things that were in there so that we could use it as a family this year. Best laid plans- you know what I mean? Yah, it's been crazy! Emma was the one that opened them up every morning, but she stopped doing it for awhile, because we just weren't getting any of them done. We have finally gotten most of them in, but only because mom has forced the fun! And some days it has been a really forced, "you will sit here and decorate cookies and you will enjoy every minute of it, while I run around like a mad woman, tripping over things and breaking them and screaming" kind of forced fun! Yeah! We love Christmas! Now don't get me wrong. I really do love Christmas. It is my most favorite time of year. And I hate the humbug kind of whiners who complain about how much work it is and all the stuff they have to do and how they have to go out of their way to find a great present for everyone, blah, blah blah, how selfish am I! Right! We don't like those kind of people- boo! Hiss! Ok, so back to this year. Christmas is killing me!! I know, I know- my own fault! I started too late, I tried to do too much! My craft stuff has been strewn all over the house for weeks. My poor "has to have the house clean at all times" husband has been having heart attacks, but to his credit he has done really well with it! He calls it my Carousel of Fun and asks regularly if I am having fun. I lied every time and said "yes!" See, because generally I do enjoy it, just not when I have to make 45 cards or 40 creative letters or 5 aprons or.... You get the picture. I did enlist Max's help. He actually got pretty good at stamping the letters by the end!! Hee hee!
Well today I finally cleaned up the Carousel of fun! My letters and cards all got sent out and I had to pay 20 cents extra for each one because of my creativiness! My aprons didn't get made, but I figure they can wait until after Christmas. Now I am hoping to sit back and enjoy- yeah right- not with 2 more hats to crochet and a couple quilts to make and....
But in the meantime, we have done some fun things from the countdown like, write letters to Santa, decorate Christmas cookies, make a gingerbread house, cut out snowflakes and make a couple fun treats. Next year I vow to not be so creative so I won't have to pay for it and I can enjoy my Christmas countdown with my children a little better!

Christmas traditions

Today St. Nicholas came- Not the best day considering it was Fast Sunday, but the 6th is the day, whether it is convenient or not! The kids loved it. It was like a little Christmas. We played with cars and ate chocolate for breakfast- all those who could eat, and learned a new card came. It was so nice to just relax this Sunday morning. Things have been a little crazy around here. I have to go to the lawyer this week for one of my ER patients, I just completed (and passed, thank you very much) my trauma nurse course, I have been directing the Activity day girls in a 12 days of Christmas for one of the families in our ward, etc., etc.

We also took our traditional Family Picture, today. It is so hard to get 6 people all to look good at the same time. I finally got everyone else to look good and then I look crazy! Oh well. After that we had to just do one fun one. I think this one would be perfect for the Christmas card, don't you?