Christmas At Our House

After months of preparation, weeks of excitement, and

memories made together, 

Christmas came a went.

We enjoyed a visit from Santa Clause.  He rode through our

neighborhood on a firetruck. Now, whenever Baby J. hears

the sirens, he's convinced it's Santa coming back to take him

to the North Pole.

The kids sang in our church's Christmas program.

We enjoyed a very fun and relaxing Christmas Eve dinner with

our kids.  We all shared memories of the first Christmas

when P. and Baby J. lived with us.  The boys loved hearing

our memories of them.  We all loved knowing that the

boys would be with us for many, many more Christmases.

Christmas morning was a wonderful and exciting time.

With four kids in the house, the noise level and excitement level

was really high.

I thought of my Mom often in the weeks and days that

led up to Christmas.  I thought of her on Christmas Eve and on Christmas 

morning.  I couldn't help but think of how much she would

have loved celebrating Christmas with her grandchildren.

Our family was blessed on Christmas morning to be surrounded by

people that not only loved  us but loved my Mom too.

I couldn't help but think of how 

happy Mom would be to see us so happy.

To see us crying less, laughing more,

and really celebrating the holiday together.

After the presents were opened, and our visitors went

home, this is what our house looked like.

The boys' room looked like a Christmas tornado came through.

Like boys everywhere, they went from toy to toy to toy.

The ripped open packaging, put together race car tracks,

shot guns, screamed, played drums, and

made a mess of their room.

Sweet Doodles spent her morning enjoying her American

Doll Molly and the matching pajamas that Aunt Pammie

sent her.  Her toys were opened carefully and neatly.

Each item was put away before a new toy was brought out.

Yet another reason why every family needs at least one daughter.

This Christmas was truly Merry.  It was a wonderful thing

to spend Christmas with my four children, to count my 

many blessings, and at the end of a very busy day to fall in to

bed exhausted and overwhelmed by the many gifts that I have

been given in this life.