Christmas

Well, let's start with Christmas Eve...

There were soooo many presents I had to take a super wonky picture to get them all in. Seriously, and I mean it this time, next year we are not getting so many presents!  (That's probably a lie but I like to say it and acknowledge the fact that I do realize that we are very lucky to be able to have such a wonderful Christmas).

We have the tradition of having Chinese take out on Christmas Eve (cause it's easy) and we finally found a place that served the best take out I have EVER eaten, oh yeah they were closing FOREVER on Christmas Eve. Mr. Ping...WHY????  WHY, I SAY WHY???  Anyway, I have a whole year to find a new Chinese take out place...good luck to me!

Brooke also attended mass with Busia and Dzia (Charlie's parent's who were visiting from out of town) and she really enjoyed it!

Finally, there are pre bedtime things to be done on Christmas Eve, like....putting out cookies and milk for Santa... and carrots for reindeer... and gifts for Santa... and notes for Santa.  And of course, reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, which Brooke did this year. Be careful what traditions you start. When you have kids..THEY DO NOT FORGET!! If you start a new tradition, you are just adding it to all the other traditions...the night can become very long!!

Note the array of desserts, a virtual buffet if you will, the gift from Brooke to Santa...a hand woven loom red and green pot holder, and the note to Santa indicates Brooke would like Santa to wake all of us up and give us a ride in his sleigh.

In Santa's response, found Christmas morning, he explained that he could not wake us up and give us a joy ride because there were many kids left to deliver gifts to on Christmas Eve. Brooke was happy and very understanding of this.

So that brings us to a very happy group of children on Christmas morning....

Unwrapping a Playstation 3....

Rockband 2 for Playstation 3....

(Do please check out our fireplace in the background...don't you just love the TV yule log with Christmas music!)

OK back to presents...

the kids received Rosetta Stone French and they have been using it already.  Zach should be fully prepared for his trip to France in March.  He is really, really excited already!

We also got the Wii Fit board.  We have been Shawn White snowboarding on it so far, but we have big plans to use it for some fun exercise too.  We'll see....if it visibly displays my actual weight, it won't be around for long.

The kids received so much more and have been so busy with everything!!

Here's a snapshot of RockBand 2.  You can see the kids are having a great time but note two things...first, my inlaws huddled together at the table...I think that says something...and second, our angel looks like she's about to take flight off the top of the tree.  Truly it was fun, and the best laugh I've had was when Charlie was playing and singing along...he's a great sport!!

Now 'round about 4pm Brooke broke out one of her new nightgowns that came with a sleeping eye mask.  Let me tell you what, that thing must really work because she crawled in my bed and was out in like 5 seconds.  We had to wake her for Christmas dinner.

So as the kids have been playing with their new things we have had a few moments....like, if your brother, Zach, gets a totally awesome remote control helicopter and you hang out waiting patiently for a turn with it...

You may end up getting said helicopter flown right into your hair, by accident of course!!!

And it might take your mom 15 minutes to carefully remove it!!  That was a project!

And finally, I received lots of awesome presents...gift cards, clothes, Cricut cartridges, a watch, and all kinds of other wonderful things. I am happy to report that someone heard my pleas....you may not know, but for over a year I've been saying, out loud...really loud... 

"Get a girl a Garmin!!"

...and indeed, I finally got a Garmin. Now I have not only a GPS but some serious freedom. I CAN read a map, but I am always nervous when on my own in a big city that is new to me and I have the time restraint of needing to get back for my kids releasing from school. So today I used it to head into San Antonio and was able to get there and get back no problem. Wahoo!!

I'm hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas too.  We are currently removing our Christmas decor and preparing for the New Year...umm, yeah we have a tradition for that too.  I'll share that tomorrow or Wednesday!  It's yummy!