Twas the Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas and all throughout the house

all the kiddies were up and running around through the house.

So many presents to play with and good treats to still eat.

While mom and dad might be sleepy, the kids keep us on our feet.

Wrappings and ribbons are still strewn on the floor

a huge mess indeed, that I am choosing to ignore.

The kids will spend the day playing with their goodies galore

and I will be grateful that I don't have to go to any stores.

I am happy to be living and breathing with my loves ones so dear,

and I am content to just sit here, remembering a great year!!

The End.

OK - so I am not as eloquent as others I know, but I thought it would be fun to try and create a little story to capture what our Christmas Day (and the aftermath) consisted of.

And now I am done. Sorry if that was painful for some of you.

Here's what's been going on at our house since last I posted.

Christmas Eve - 7:30 ish - the girls got new Jammies. How stink'in cute do they look. BB1 loved her nighttime dress and who doesn't like a kid in polka dots.

Christmas Eve - 11:30 ish - Santa was in Cedar City, UT according to NORAD tracking. Good thing we are went to bed when we did, so that Santa could come.

Christmas Day - 7:30 am - BB1 wakes up first (which I thought was awesome considering Papa Bear and I both woke up at 5 wondering when we were going to get pounced on by the wee ones) She went to Papa Bear's side of the bed first (I guess she has learned that I don't respond so well that early in the morning) and told him that Santa had come and there were some really big presents under the tree. . . SO big they weren't even wrapped. . .and to hurry up and come down stairs. She then immediately ran into BB2's room and the words that came floating back down the hallway were - "BB2, wake up - Santa came and there are sooooo many presents. YIPPEEEE!!" This statement was then immediately followed up with excited giggles, laughter and clapping from both of them. I LOVE IT!

I got video of them sliding down the stairs and their first reaction to the bounty that awaited them. Once I figure out how to upload video, you'll get to see the comedy and joy that only kids on Christmas morning can create.

Question - Can you really be in 5 different places at once. Answer - YES!, if there are presents with your name on them in 5 different places. Trust me on this one.

Stockings came first and the rest of the morning was a blur of ribbons and wrapping paper flying around the room. What I remember the most is the warm and happy feeling in my heart as I watched the ones I love the most so excited and happy.

BB1 is now a rock star and we expect some pretty spectacular performances from her in the near future and BB2 is on her way to becoming a great mommy (she loves her new little baby) and a Galaxy Explorer with her new Space Buggy. It was all we could do to get her out of the car and eat some breakfast.

Both the girls where great when it came to not eating all of the candy from their stockings (I am still not sure how I got so lucky on that one) and after a breakfast of really yummy crumb cake, bacon and eggs, they spent the next several hours just playing with all their new toys. Both the girls got new teddy bears which have been named Sugar (BB1) and Spice (BB2) and they could not be more appropriate in describing the child they belong too.

The rest of the day was just hanging around. Papa Bear hung a new light fixture in the garage and shoveled a bunch of snow. I cleaned out the play room, to make room for all the new toys and BB1 got all dressed up to play in the snow. We all got to take a nap (one of the best things about Christmas Day), except for BB1 who said she was not in the slightest bit tired.

Dinner consisted of the most delicious of spiral sliced ham (thank you Target for having such a great deal on them - 1.14/lb.) and yummy salad and rolls. If anyone is in the mood for a nice ham sandwich you know where to get one, seriously, we will be eating it all week!

So definitely a great Christmas. The only way to improve on it would be to have family and friends near by to share it with. We only hope everyone had as great a Christmas where ever you are.

Oh - before I forget- On Christmas Eve - BB1 wanted to get her face painted like a clown. Not sure where the idea came from, but she got all dressed up as a clown (thanks JoJo the clown costume for finally fitting 2 years after we purchased it for Halloween) and the pictures are just too cute not to share. Enjoy!

Tracking Santa

Yep - that's right. As I type this post, we are currently tracking Santa's where abouts. Right now he is in Valparaiso, Chile. BB1 couldn't be more excited about seeing where he is right now, cause as she just informed me seconds ago "it means he is on his way to our house."

As a kid, I could never fall asleep on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come. I would just lay there in bed telling myself to go to sleep, but my little body was filled with so much raw excitement and energy it took all my strength to not pop out of bed like a Mexican jumping bean every 2 seconds. I never actually remember falling asleep, but eventually I must have as Christmas morning always came and Santa had always made his delivery just like I hoped he would.

Even now I still feel that boundless excitement and energy, and even more so now that I can see the joy that Christmas brings to my two little ones. I love seeing the light and wonder of the season shining through their eyes. I hope they have a good Christmas and take away the most important presents of all - love for all mankind, peace for the earth, joy in the heavens and the miracle of the birth of one tiny baby and the endless possibilities of hope that event has brought for all of us.

I know BB1 got it this year about the giving of presents, especially to her teacher and classmates. She was so excited to give out her little present and she got so sad when she thought she was one short (side note - she wasn't and everyone walked away with a treat) BB2 loves going up to the tree and looking up at the lights and ornaments and have been REALLY good about not taking them off. (did I get lucky or what). Just a little glimpse into our Christmas doings.

Well, BB1 just told BB2 that they both needed to be sure to get to bed on time so that Santa could come and deliver his presents. It's 7:30 and the earliest these two have wanted to go to bed for a while, especially at thier own request. I will not say be saying no to this one.

Also, Santa is now in Moyobamba, Peru and getting closer and closer and closer.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Christmas Letter to Santa

Because this is too cute not to share. Below is the letter that BB1 emailed to Santa for Christmas. She wrote it (with the help of Papa Bear) and all the words (for the most part) are from her own mouth.

Dear Santa,
I have been super nice this year! I have listened to my parents and done most things that they have asked me to. I love my little sister so much and help her with lots of things like walking and eating and getting dressed. I keep my room and my play room clean most of the time. Most of the time I make my bed and I put my pajamas away. Below are the toys I would like for Christmas.

Kawasaki 4-Wheeler
Barbie Bicycle
Fur Real Friends Butterscotch Pony
Kitchen Set
Hannah Montana Microphone Set
Barbie Corvette
Barbie TV-DVD
Video Games
Laptop Computer
Straightening Iron
Arts and Craft Supplies

Love, BB1

That being shared - I find simple joy in the way that technology keeps up with even something as simple as being able to send a letter via email to a big fat man with a predisposition for red and all thing jolly, with all your wishes attached, and knowing he will get it and even respond (yep, Santa had already written BB1 a response back).

I guess there is some merit to being on the "nice" side of the list more times than the "naughty" one.

So, what are you asking Santa for Christmas this year?

Letter to Santa

This letter was sent to me by my sister-in-law (author unknown) but it's message needed to be shared with all the wonderful moms, grandmothers, aunts, friends and women I know who can appreciate the sentiment expressed within. Enjoy!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the kids doctors office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Snow Day

Well we have had our first official snow fall, and if this storm is an indicator of how much snow we are going to be getting at our new house, then we are definitely going to have to buy a snow blower. There is no way we are going to just be able to shovel the few inches we are used to getting and be done with it.

In Colorado, the snow (for the most part) stayed where it belonged - in the mountains. But I guess that is not the case here. Oh no my friends, here it snows in feet and at last unofficial measure, we got almost a foot of the cold white stuff.

Thanks to a mysterious rumour that Papa Bear had broken his arm, (BTW - his arm is NOT broken) our very kind and generous neighbor showed up with his snow blower to help with our drive way and sidewalks. Without his help we might still be shoveling our way out 2 days later.

I have to admit that the snow made for a very pretty picture at our house, as it blanketed the scrub oak that permeates our yard and neighborhood. I just wish I had taken a picture of it to share.

Once we finally let her outside to play, BB1 had a blast. BB2, on the other hand, took a little more convincing. As long as she was just standing in the snow she was fine, but the minute she fell back into the snow, she was not a happy camper. And she really didn't like the time that she fell over forward into the snow. Darn snow boots that make it too hard to balance or even walk! Luckily mom was there to rescue her and dad to give her kisses to make her cold cheeks disappear.

For a little bit of snow fun, we took both the kids over on Papa Bears newest toy (a 4 wheeler) to a little park area in our neighborhood with some nice slopes and let BB1 "snowboard".

I use that term loosely, as sitting on the snow board and using it as a sled don't really count as snowboarding, but hey, she was having fun.

She also got a really good lesson about the laws of motion that state (very loosely I might add) that what goes up, must come down, or in the case of sledding what goes down, must come up. It was pure comedy watching her try and bring the board back up the hill and loose her grip on it and then have to chase back down after the slippery little thing, but I guess situations like these build character or perseverance or teach on of those important life lesson, right? Hopefully it just made her appreciate and enjoy the smooth ride down all the more.

During this whole sledding adventure, BB2 was just content to sit on the trash can lid we brought in the hope of using as a sled (it didn't work) and "help" me and Papa Bear make a snow alligator for BB1. We tried for the old fashion snow man, but the snow just wasn't wet enough. Here's a picture of the girls with their little snow creature. who turned out pretty darn good - IMHO (in my humble opinion).

Also, While Papa Bear and I were making the snow alligator for BB1, BB2 discovered that eating the snow off her gloves was pretty tasty and that maybe this white stuff wasn't so terrible after all.

BB1 started eating the snow the minute she got outside which makes me think that maybe I should just be grateful that it was freshly fallen snow that they were eating and not snow that had been plowed, shoveled and tacked through by who knows what little forest creatures and random neighborhood animals.

BB1 seems to think all snow is fair game for eating, which makes me sick to even think about what she might be putting into her mouth along with the snow. I have told her all about not eating yellow or brown snow (gross to even write about) and I only hope she listens to me on this one. Thank heavens for kids with strong immunity systems. Here's to them working overtime!! And enough talk about yellow snow!! :o}