It's the MOST wonderful time of the year...

So!  I've been be-moaning the lack of official photos for the babe... and made it a point to get one with Santa for his First Christmas (the babe's, not Santa) (at least I don't think this Santa is a rookie).  I was SURE that Sammy boy would cry his lungs out.  I was a bit nervous.  For the past few days, I've been saying "ho ho ho" in a deep voice, to get him ready to meet the big man.  Oh, and Kaden and I have worn a Santa-hat-with-beard and gotten in his face.  Dry run and all that.  Most of the time, we'd get little baby laughs in response.

You can see how well all that smiley preparation paid off.  There's our serious Sam, looking a bit bewildered.  It *could* be because it was 8:30 at night, and we're normally winding down for bedtime, not partying in a candy house.  Or it could be because he had just woken up from a 2 hour nap. Or... maybe it was Santa after all?  If you can click and make the photo big:  notice Sam's curls.  Also notice Kaden's tentative smile:  he was so focused on what to say to Santa, he was a bit more nervous than I thought!

And I'm not sure we'll get those Christmas cards out this year... or that I'll post before next Thursday.  So MERRY CHRISTMAS dear friends and net stalkers!  From our scraggly little love-filled tree to yours!

Night in Bethlehem (preview)

Kaden and I have been having some GREAT conversations lately... but he's also at the age where he knows about "posting things online" and doesn't want everything up here.  So I'm not posting *everything*.  But I had to post this...

After seeing a box with a nativity photo on it, he asked what it was.

Me:  It's called "Night in Bethlehem."  It's a program we're doing at church this year.
Kaden:  really?  So, what grades will be in it?
Me:  All the grades are invited.
Kaden:  even FIRST grade?
Me:  yes.  (realizing he thinks it's a Christmas program the kids act out...) - Not like last year.  It's a little like a VBS night, for families, about Christmas.  So we make the gym look like the village of Bethlehem might have on the night Jesus was born.  And you come and get to walk through town and do fun stuff.

Kaden:  ALL RIGHT!!!  Will Mary be there?
Me:  yes.  at some point.  I don't know if you'll get to see her or not.  They were traveling, remember?
Kaden:  I know, I know.  HEY!  Does Sammy get to be baby Jesus?
Me:  No, silly, he's too big.  Remember when he was just born, how tiny he was?  Now, he'd be sitting up and waving and smiling at people, and Jesus didn't do that on his first night.

Kaden:  Yes he did, Mom.  It's in the story, remember?  The Drummer Boy (one of his faves).
Me: um. yes. well, that was probably not his FIRST night on earth.
Kaden:  I think it was, Mom.

~~~
There was more, of course, as the conversation unfolded to other Christmas memories and general celebrating thoughts.  After bedtime, I found out that he had a chat with JimDad just after he came home (about a half hour after our original chat).   Loosely translated:

Kaden:  Dad, did you know that we are doing a Bethlehem night at our church?
JimDad:  yes.
Kaden:  And Mom says that Sammy can't be baby Jesus because he's too big, and Jesus didn't smile or wave when he was born, but she's wrong Dad because remember the Little Drummer Boy?  Jesus smiled at HIM.  I think Mom is wrong on this one...

The gig is (almost) up!

So, it's Christmas, more or less!  And our five year old boy is thinking.  A lot.

The other day, he tells me he "just knows" that Santa will bring him a specific toy.  "Hmm," I said, "but you just wrote him a letter, and you only asked for ONE toy, and that wasn't it.  How can he bring you a toy if you didn't ask him for it?"   He thought about that, and then explained to me (!):  "Well, Mom, doncha know that Santa watches me all the time?  He knows if I'm bad or good.  So he knows what I want, too!"

This Santa business- I don't know how long it can last, if he's thinking like that.  At FIVE.  We were with some good friends the other day, and I loved watching their 3 kids write their letters to Santa.  The oldest started with "I still believe in you, even though I'm 10 and some of my friends don't."  Heartwarming, yes?  Then she closed with "and I know I've been good, so I deserve some presents."  I had to snort my coffee so I didn't laugh out loud.  She really is sweet, and the rest of the letter was not demanding at all, which made the ending so surprising!   Her younger brother, on the other hand, was not demanding at all in his gentle suggestions for toys.  He ended the letter with "and I hope I've been good enough."  Clearly aware of his areas for growth :)

Last week, the kids had a *scheduled* 2 hour delay, that I missed the memo on.  So after walking to the bus stop, then driving to school, then standing outside for 5 minutes... someone clued us in, and we decided to head to Starbucks for a treat.  Today, we had a *winter weather* 2 hour delay- and I totally got the memo on this one!  So we bundled up and carefully trudged out to the bus stop.  The girls were more or less lined up, chatting with each other.  The boys found a pile of snow/ice to destroy by stomping or grabbing and throwing.  On the way there, Kaden mentioned how walking on ice "was kinda like skating" and how he couldn't wait until recess, so he could throw snowballs.  "Hey bud, I don't know if they let you do that at recess.  I've never had a snow recess, so I don't know how it works."  He looked at me very seriously.  "I've never had a snow recess EITHER."  Then he smiled, "so I guess we'll find out TODAY."

This weekend was also the feast day of St. Nickolas.  Kaden was thrilled to see him, even before he realized there was chocolate coins involved.  We were around most of the morning, long enough to see St. Nick 3 times. One of those times, it was his dad playing St Nick.  When St. JimNick entered the room, Kaden stared at him for a minute, then started stroking his own imaginary beard (no lie, he does this often when he's thinking).  HEY! (he jumped out of his chair and yelled) YOU REMIND ME OF SOMEONE.   "Santa Claus? I'm the original one, you know."  Kaden shook his head, "no, that's not it.." and thankfully his teacher jumped in and moved the class along.

Later that day, Kaden told me he thought Jim was dressed as St. Nick.  "He had the same shoes, Mom."
Jim piped up:  Just a coincidence.  
Kaden:  "And the same voice..."
Jim:  a lot of people sound alike, buddy.
~ pause ~
Kaden:  and the SAME GREEN EYES, Dad!  (then he smiles and starts nodding his head)
Jim: (flabbergasted)
Me:  well, the way to tell if Daddy is St. Nick's special helper, is to go see St. Nick again.  If you see St. Nick and Daddy *together*, then they can't be the same person, right?!
Kaden:  hmmm.

Thankfully, I knew we had one more St. Nick sighting to go- and it wasn't Jim.  So we were sure to have Jim in the same room with Kaden and St. Nick.  We haven't heard any further arguments, but we're not sure he's convinced either!!

North Pole Breakfast?!?

File this under "Keeping up with Pinterest Jones"...

I was somewhere - online - and someone (also online) mentioned a North Pole Breakfast.  I had no idea what it was, but the accompanying photo of powdered donuts made to look like a snowman was pretty cool.  So off I went to pinterest...

Twenty minutes later, I have a vague idea of what it is...

A) a non-healthy breakfast that the Elf on the Shelf brings to welcome himself into your home (and if that doesn't spell T.R.O.U.B.L.E, people, then what does?).

B) a non-healthy breakfast undertaken sometime during the Christmas season, for the fun of it.

C) a semi-healthy breakfast specifically on Christmas, or as an "event" with invited guests...

D) any mixture of the above.

E) whatever the mistletoe you want it to me.

Anywho, I'm not up for adding another event to my December calendar.  Unless, possibly, we have some cousins over for a fun breakfast- at dinnertime.   BUT I'm thinking, it's more likely that I'll be able to add *some* sort of North Pole element into our breakfast once a week.  On a day I'm not working, of course.  My favorite ideas involve Christmas Tree pancakes, rudolph mini donuts, peppermint bark donuts (mmm), snowmen pancakes, and - this is awesome- reused frappacino bottles to make a drinkable snowman.

I'm tempted to post the inspiration photos I found, but then I wouldn't post the "what it actually looked like" photos.  For whenever I get around to doing this.  (I've already missed the deadline to make pilgrim hats for Thanksgiving and St Nick cookies on his feast day- whoops!)   Besides, you NEED another reason to go search pinterest, doncha?

Anywho, is this North Pole Breakfast just a Pinterest fantasy?  Or have any of you done one? or something like it?  Send me your ideas.

Short Walks, Big Talks

On the walk to the bus stop this morning, Kaden was asking about the tree leaves.  Why are some green, and some are turning yellow and red?  When will all the trees have all their leaves gone?

So I started telling him how some trees are evergreens, so they stay green no matter what.  Like palm trees, I said.  "Or Christmas trees!"  I chuckled a yes, saying Christmas trees were usually some kind of pine tree.  "It's a good thing they stay green," Kaden started laughing, "Or we'd just have a bunch of STICKS in the house for our ornaments to hang on!!"

Dear Santa

I should let you know that the letter writing to Santa took a lot of coaxing this year.  Not to sit down to write it, but to put it in a semi-letter, polite form.  The 4 year old was more interested in listing the 100s of toys he wanted.  The first draft was "Dear elves, please tell Santa to bring me lots and lots and lots of toys."  So, lots of coaching was involved.  That being said... enjoy!

"Dear Santa and elves,

 I hope you're not working too hard.  We moved to Pennsylvania, and it's really cold so I hafta wear a jacket.   Dear Santa, I hope you give me M&Ms like St. Nick did.  Ho Ho Ho!  Dear Santa, I am a nice kid.  Please give me a game system and a lot of games, like Brave.  And please give me an iPod and a shooter gun and ninja turtles.  And a motorcycle that I can ride on.  And the big hockey game and a baking system for girls, because I love baking.  And other games, like Monopoly.

We are building a Christmas Tree, and stockings.  I am going to make presents and give them to my family, like Daddy.  I am going to share my presents, with my friends.   Goodbye Santa, I hope to see you soon!  That's it, the end of the story and the show.   Love, Kaden.

PS - directions to my new house:  go that way, then that way, and that way, then turn that way, go right and then go left, and then go straight and stop in the middle."

ps- we are in PA, finally, but I have some great shots from our Florida visit last week :)

What Holiday is this, again?

So tonight I finished the family Christmas photos- they'll go out tomorrow, mostly sans cards.  Sorry!  The entire season got away for me.  Maybe I'll start planning for Valentine's Day on Monday :)  I did spend a lot of time creating (on Picasa) a little DVD of our Christmas photos, but can't figure out how to burn it to a DVD.  So today, I officially give up.  We do enjoy and appreciate all your thoughts and cards... hope you'll forgive our extreme tardiness!

Today I finally cut up Kaden's fingerpaintings into the Christmas Thank You cards... and we finished his "hand turkey shirt" by painting his hand outline on it.  So we've one shirt with 3 years of handprints, but it won't fit him next year.  Unless I sew it onto a NEW t-shirt.  Which, given my track record for completing projects, I should start in about 3.5 hours.

I keep forgetting we have Monday off for MLK day.  I like the idea of doing a service project... and then again I like the idea of hanging on in PJs in the backyard.  Hey, does completing your own unfinished house/kid projects count as service?  Just kidding.  (Mostly.)

Anyway, we also packed up the tree and Christmas stuff earlier in the week, but left the boxes on the porch because there's always random ornaments or PJs that show up a few days later.  But tomorrow they go into the attic!   Well, after we get the wreath off the door (I got used to seeing it there).  

Speaking of getting used to things... we have 3 pumpkins still in the front door area.  Not carved, but glitter painted.  I ignored my neighbor's suggestion to paint them red, but maybe now we will.  For Valentine's Day, of course!  I was officially tired of them at New Year's, but now it's kinda like Kramer test-driving that car with the fuel gauge on E:  how long will they make it?

O Christmas Tree

Aha!  It's done!  The tree is up and the glow of lights is sooooo nice.

We let a mini-Santa help decorate.  Actually, he stopped hugging the tree and helped us hang ornaments.  You know that means most of them are within the bottom 2 feet of the tree.  Somehow, it still looks "beautiful".

Our little guy was so happy the tree was being put up that he literally danced for joy.  All over the house.  Repeating "see?  the tree is up!  see?  I love our tree."   He is truly amazed.   Last week, we had a playdate at church- 4 boys between 2 and 3 years old.  It was a lot of fun- with the most popular toy being... a palm frond.  Yes indeed.  Anyway, we tried to wrangle the boys into a tree photo.

What were we thinking?  It was like trying to herd kittens to sit together.  There are 4 boys in the photo above.  Kaden is all the way to the left.  One boy laid on his stomach and the others started to follow.  Then they realized they could swing their legs up and kick the tree ornaments.  Seriously- herding kittens.

Tomorrow begins the -so-many-holiday-party-days.  I think the schedule goes:  morning party and night party, night party, day off, work (giving gifts to volunteers), work, work with kids party, afternoon party.  One of those parties I don't have to prepare, and all are related to church or work in some way.  I'd like to do our cookie party again this year (we make the dough and ppl just come over and roll, bake, decorate whilst we chat and drink cocoa).   We'll see.    If nothing else, I'll have some fun photos for everyone :)   How's your Christmas season going?

Christmas Fret (and maybe poop)

Despite the title, I'm actually in a good mood- or maybe a mellow good mood.  It's probably because I found a LOT of Christmas music on my computer, which I can get to and play.  As opposed to the nice Christmas CD collection, packed away with all the other holiday stuff in the attic, which only my husband can get to.

Which means we haven't drug out the tree OR the lights OR the nativity sets OR any other holiday decoration.  And I was all fine with that, and then suddenly I wasn't.  Where was the window of time that had both "I'd like to get the decorations out and up" AND "we have time to do this."  GONE, I tell you- I went from fine to annoyed in .6 seconds, and it's no one's fault but my own.

Still, I'm laughing at myself- after just one or two nights of cranky annoyedness, now I'm more like "heh, I'm annoyed without giving a reason".  SO I highly recommed stashing Christmas music in an easily retrievable and rememborable spot.  Also, having a kind husband who listens to your rant and is STILL kind afterward helps very much.  Also, having plans to decorate jsut before the crazy holiday party circuit (and we're not even going to them ALL) helps.  Oh, and don't forget having a toddler who likes to sing along with the Christmas carols even if he doesn't know the words.  Hmm, well that's helpful for about 5 minutes, and then only as a memory to smile at.  Otherwise, the FIVE GOLDEN RINGS  starts to clash with the nice Christmas music feelings.

Well, believe it or not, I'm knee deep in wrapping presents and making all SORTS of compromises to my "original, best plan" that involved everything being equal and fair and recycled wrapping that Kaden colored or painted on.  Which is odd, since I had finished shopping about 2 weeks ago.  Well, except for the alternative gifts and one online special that I missed the deadline on and was waiting for another deal to come up.  And now it IS up, but there's no way for me to tell if i can GIFT it to another address before I click the 'pay now' button, which makes me a bit nervous.

And then, with the alternative gifts, there's a spousal debate raging about whether we include them in the Box-o-Gifts or mail the acknowledgements out separately with the Christmas cards.  Actually, I'd like to include the Christmas cards too, but I haven't taken the "Florida Christmas" photo, even though I've had the idea since halloween. 

I think the shipping deadline is today, for regular dont-sell-us-your-arm shipping prices.  But in addition to all the above, I need two large boxes and instead have one XXL huge bog and one medium large-ish box. I THINK I can use the medium big box for one family but then the other family's box will have lots of air packs, which makes it look way less exciting. Especially because we really don't go overboard AND it's got recycled wrapping paper, which looks less exciting.  I like to think our Christmas gift boxes say:   "we love you, and we carefully picked out these few presents, AND we also love the earth so we've recycled paper AND we also want to share our creativity so we've painted the paper to make it look festive"   I don't know, though, maybe it says something else entirely. 

Anyway, I have two hours before going into work, and should have all the gift-y stuff off the table before kaden comes home too.  Plenty of time if i'm just wrapping and sealing boxes, but not so much if I have to go print and pick up things.  So I'll get off the blog now.

BUT I really have to share my most favorite alternative gift:   Manure.   Really, with the tagline that says something like "show your family you give a sh*t this Christmas".  Oxfam makes me laugh so hard!!  And I could think of a few people to send it to, but I think maybe they'd take it the wrong way.  Would you?

Required Holiday Photos

I suppose it's time to drag out the tree, eh?

and dress up to go to holiday stuff...

But if there's still pumpkins around, that's okay.

There's plenty of imaginary characters around this time of year,

what's another three?

Because we'll still smile for the camera,

even when we have no idea what else to do.



Because, as Kaden often reminds us:  "It's okay, we're family."

We can barely contain our excitement at that...

And we'll dress up like Pop.



And remind ourselves, it's all about the Light of the World

(which is, of course, "ME AND JESUS")



Our goal is for a simple, meaningful season.

Being sick and unable to decorate the first two weeks is helping.

So is crafting an ornament each day (part of an Advent calendar/devotion).

Though I use the term "craft" lightly.  Maybe I'll post some examples later.

Peace, y'all.

Kaden's Christmas Program

I would've titled this "a star is born" but it seems a bit sacreligious during *this* season!

Did I mention we switched K's preschool/daycare? We did, and they are BRAVE-

they actually held a Christmas Program! with 2-5 year olds!

Hi Mom! and Dad! and Nana!

It was only 25 minutes or so, just the right amount. I was suprised that it included a little preaching, but then again they do consider the daycare as an outreach. And it wasn't much.

And, actually, it was a pretty good message.

Being a good 2 year old- he was watching one of the teachers...

There were a few songs the kids sang, which had motions too.

This actually cleared up why Kaden's been talking about the stable and the manger.

If only we could figure out where all the "firefighter" play comes from!

Did you call me?

We have 2 or 3 good videos of different songs. Email me and I'll send you the link.

Kaden is such a ham around family and friends, but also can be shy in new situations.

We were wondering if tonight he would be following along, or just staring out.

One happy "Joseph"

Can you guess? He did great. He knew the movements and at least some of the words to all "their" songs. He was a bit antsy here and there, but listened when a teacher re-directed him back to his spot. What a great kid! I have a feeling these "programs" are only going to get MORE fun...

What if...

Sunday Adventures

Plans: enjoy the 9am Family Mass, reconnect with friends, K works for 20 minutes while Jimdad and Kaden hit the playground... quick change for all then off to the beach to dry out any lingering sickness. Return home for showers and naps and, if time permits, to go to a fantastic hispanic carnival in a neighboring town.

Reality: wake up at 9.30 am to Kaden complaining "it hurts" while holding his stomach. Dreading the 12 hour stomach flu that is still making rounds among our relatives, I asked, "does it hurt like you got hit? or like you're hungry?" His face and voice brightened immediately: "Yes, Mama, huuuuuuuuuuuuuuungry!"

He proceeds to eat 2 plates of oatmeal, 2 glasses of juice and 1.5 apples. During which, Jim and I talk and decide he's well enough to continue our plan, just aiming for the Noon mass instead. The boys get dressed as I shower... and come out of the bedroom to find Kaden curled up on Jim's shoulder, completely asleep. Okay, maybe he's not so fine?

Jim heads to Mass by himself, and I curl up with Kaden and new book. Oh, and some of PBS's special show- ADD and Loving It, which was hysterical and informative! Fun! (unpaid opinion there). Jim comes back and whips up a batch of nachos for lunch... Kaden wakes up with a huge smile: Chips? Proceeds to eat 2 small helpings, a hot dog and another cup of juice. Oh my.

We scuttled the beach plans and instead had a relaxing Sunday. I can't remember the last time we had one! Well, at least it was relaxing until Kaden and I headed to the 5pm Mass at Nana's church. She's sitting in the 3rd row from the front (!!!) and so we settle in too. The priest blessed the Advent wreath, and Kaden pops up from the pew to ask "What happened?"

We whispered that the wreath was lit for Advent. Can't wait to see how we'll explain God becoming human...

oooh!

Merry Christmas everyone! The word on the street is: ooooh!

This was Kaden's reaction to pretty much everything. Including the lights as we drove home on Christmas Eve... followed by "more?"

He likes the toys and clothes, but the big three excitements were: 1) Christmas lights 2) Wrapping Paper and 3) Coooo-kies

Have a peaceful weekend!

Good Morning, Santa's Workshop, how can we help you?

Ah. I know I SHOULD be sleeping, what with being sick and work in the morning and all... but there has been a perfect non-snow storm tonight. Kade was up a while there coughing... and my get-better meds have things like steroids and caffiene in them (!) which is great for my lungs to be healthy but not so much for the rest of me to sleep.... and then there's the shipping deadline to get presentes out to arrive BEFORE Christmas, which seems The Right Thing for relations. The gifties are wrapped, but not Fitting Neatly into the pre-selected mailing boxes. Now it's time to be imaginative. So yes, my brothers, your box o' gifts should arrive Christmas Eve. Friends and cousins? Not so much. Kade's been sleeping a bit, and my med buzz is wearing off. As soon as I stop coughing I will be asleep (maybe even at the keyboard- wouldn't that be nice for Jim to wake up to??).

And if you know me even a little, you'll remember I don't really send out cards until Christmas Eve at the earliest, just because it seems like a nice time for ME to be writing them out, as I'm overflowing with Holiday Joy and Good Will Tidings then. Until then, it's a bit stressful.

Though I am strangely NOT stressful right now. Steven Curtis Chapman is singing quietly in the corner and I am one of "those" who enjoy wrapping presents. Sometimes, when I can remember, I say some prayers for the people who will be opening the gifties. For their own holidays, and their belief in themselves, and our relationship, and their journey with God (however they understand or relate to the Diety). If there is no one else around, it is pretty peaceful for me--- one of the times I can "enter the moment" and "be present" and all that.

In fact, I know that tonight SOME of our friends and relations are snowed in. So some of those prayers were for a peaceful, holiday spirit sort of storm. And that all traveling will be safe, and flexible with their plans, and able to enjoy wherever they are (home or not). Which generally leads me to think of those without homes, especially in that type of weather, and I pray some for their safety and warmth and that they are shown kindness.

So with Christmas music playing, loved ones snowed in, and a Christmas mug of hot tea (well, lukewarm now!), this is Santa's workshop at it's best. We have 5 piles of wrapped presents waiting to be boxed and mailed. We have another 3 bags of presents on the floor for the locals. And we have at least one bag of presents to be returned (!) as we were a bit extravagent when buying for the wee one. While the numbers say we can give him all this, in reality he doesn't need it. And we don't need to be setting the expectation bar so high. In truth, while I'm very excited about this- his first "sorta understanding Christmas"- I am also looking forward to future Christmases, when we can make things together and decide together what sorts of activities and gifts make the holidays meaningful to us.

Utopian, I know. And perhaps that ideal will go the way of so many other parentings ideas I thought I held closely. But this year, Advent has been so. very. different. for me! Two years ago I was pregnant, and we were telling people at Christmastime, which added lots of excitement to the holiday. But still we had a lot of time to "be" in between the busy-ness. And I had a neat time reflecting on Mary being pregnant in the days/ weeks leading up to Christmas. Last year, Kade was a young enough and social enough baby to be toted along, wrapped up against me or passed around with others. So we did "the usual" and didn't notice much difference.

Then there's this year. We tried to do it all, the same as before. We've traveled, we partied. We've started decorating. We started making gifts. We started buying gifts. We even had ADDED to our work schedules (hosting a smashingly fantastic night program that was also extremely draining!). But the closer we got to Christmas, the more and more we've fallen behind with things.... so now I'm letting go. We might not have all the Christmas lights up, or the playroom done, or anything baked. I probably am NOT going to paint the porch, let alone lay a floor out there. I probably won't make those two crafty gift ideas I had (maybe for Valentine's Day?!).

We will host a wonderful party tomorrow to thank some wonderful people who teach the kiddos at church. After that... we'll shop online and wrap a bit with more store-bought (gasp) wrapping paper. We'll play with our boy and go on a date. And just like that, all is well again. My last quick prayer for the night is that each of you will also take a deep breath, hold onto your simplest meaningful joys and share a wonderful, peaceful Christmas Spirit this week...

And in the background, SCC sings: Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee Israel... Rejoice...

now on to my mailing boxes ;)

It's only just begun...

Kaden and friends up above. The twins are about a year and a half older, and have much fun figuring him out. Generally, they're getting the hang of "gentle" and have quit poking him the eye! What's much fun now is that Kaden is aware of them, and starting to try and join them in their play. We'll see how excited/tolerant they are when he's mobile enough to mess their stuff up!

And because I forgot to post it two weeks ago, here's Kaden at 5 months. He's now a bit more reachy, grabby, and generally more squirmy than ever before! Church is a bit less of a long reflective time and more of snatched prayers between bouncing him away from the hymnals.

Kaden's Christmas gift to us last week? TWO - yes, one and then another, TWO nights of 12 straight hours of sleep. We'll take 'em, because the rest of the time he's a bit more fussy about going to bed or being t-i-r-e-d in general. We're thinking a tooth or two might make an appearance soon.

And here's to 2009! May we all be blessed with health, happiness, and the courage to widen our circle of friends :)

Santa Baby

Here's Kaden figuring out how to open presents...



And try the gifts out...



You'd think he was confused all night!

But by Christmas morning, he got the hang of it:

Somehow, we missed the photos of Kaden eating the wrapping paper- generally, his favorite activity of the day. Maybe because we ran out of battery juice?! Here's a short take on how Christmas morning went:

Merry Christmas to all...

Three hours of wrapping, arranging and straightening up and I'm still in the Christmas mood. Must be the Spirit, eh?

While many folks have asked, I didn't really reflect a lot on this being Kaden's first Christmas. Until tonight, that is. I chased family off to bed early so I could start, um, FINISH my wrapping. Baby K woke up just after midnight, a tad hungry and really wet. Feeding him by the light of the tree was pretty neat. He watched the lights when he started, but soon drifted off. His little fingers were wrapped over my thumb, helping me hold the bottle. I can't help but think of next Christmas, and the one after that, and the next. Where will we be? Will he still be holding my hand? How big will those little fingers grow each year? I'm trying to fix this image, this feeling, in my mind. This is Peace.

Eco-Cool... or not

So... every Christmas Jim and I try to figure out way(s) to simplify the madness and focus on the good stuff (which usually isn't stuff). It's a bit tricky when there's kids involved (13 neices/nephews). We honestly WANT to be revelant to their lives, but are a bit uncomfortable with the buying-lots-of-toys scenerio. Don't get me wrong, we succomb more often than not, but generally there's lots of thought and some teeth-gnashing trying to get a balance.

ANYWAY, one of the things we try to do is recycled wrapping when possible. We learned early on that newspapers- even the comics- fail to impress the under 4 set. In fact, most toddlers refused to acknowledge those boxes as a gift! So we've decorated grocery bags with stamps, painted and re-used old blueprint papers, etc.

This year, I thought we hit a real winner. We bought all the kids new ____ (ha! you didn't think I'd write BEFORE the 25th, didya?). And then decided to 'wrap' the presents in pillowcases specially designed for each child. Well, the crafting part didn't happen... but we did scour a few thrift stores looking for kid designed cases in good condition! We get home and have much fun, ahem, assembling the gifts one by one, then putting each into a 'family' pile. Then I turned around and discovered that....

very cool, very recycled, very fun piles of gifts inside pillowcases...

mostly just look like laundry. (sigh)

Sometimes I wonder what the assorted little ones think when they get boxes from us...