Christmas is here

Well tomorrow is actually Christmas Eve. I known I should be excited and ready for Christmas. But every year I actually find myself dreading Christmas. I think it started happening when both my parents passed away several years ago. You see my parents were the picture of Christmas. They loved buying presents for the family and especially when they had grandchildren to purchase for. My Mother was one of these the number of presents did not matter. But she had to be sure that every child had the exact amount of money spent on them as the others. If this meant she had to purchase a pack of chewing gum, then so be it. That is what she would do.

I remember one year as a child I guess I was about 12 years old. My parents were gone for the day and for some reason I was allowed to stay at home by myself. Well I went into the attic and took a paring knife with me. I slit the tape on the packages with my name on them. I actually even tried on a dress. I can still see that dress it was black velvet and Oriental style with gold buttons and trim. I have to say it was probably the best but yet worse Christmas I ever had. I loved everything I received but there were no surprises. I had to act surprised with each package I opened on Christmas Eve even though I knew what everything was. I never told my Mother what I did. I think it would have broken her heart to know I had done something like that.

But to Mother and Daddy I miss you most at this time of the year. So Merry Christmas Mother and Daddy.

Christmas is over

Well, Christmas is over and for me I have to be honest I am actually glad. I don't know why but for some reason I am just not a Christmas person anymore. I used to be but over the years with losing important people in my life all the way from a child to both of my parents. I have just really lost the Christmas spirit that I once had. This year was particularly hard we are living in Pennsylvania and the girls and grand children are in Florida so that made for a very hard time for us. I was very thankful that we were able to watch the kids on the web cam open their Christmas gifts. For them it was a good Christmas and I am very happy about that. They had a good Christmas and they really deserved it. For that I say a BIG Thank You! But for me like I said before I am personally glad that Christmas is finally over. I just want to put the decorations away and get on with life and try to do the things that we know we need to do.

It is over

Well, Christmas is over and as much as I really love Christmas I am glad it is over this year. Yesterday was a nightmare with the 3 year old and his mother. I learned a new Dutch word "Trut" that is my new name for the mother. You will only know what I mean if you understand Dutch. But since you are so nice I will give you a hint. It is spelled kind of like this b_ _ _ h. If you fill in the blanks you will have it. We started passing out gifts and gave his little sister the first gift and the first thing out of his mouth was "What about me" he says this every time somebody get something and he wants it too. It just about drives me crazy and trust me I don't need anybody to drive me there cause it is so close by I can just walk there. Now we have to get things put away. The kids were really happy with their Christmas I think. They have to make room for the new stuff so we can get it all out of the living room. But then hopefully life will get back to a more normal basis. But to be honest I am not sure what normal is anymore.

Christmas Eve

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Well, today is Christmas Eve and we have almost everything wrapped and ready to put under the tree when all of the children finally fall asleep. We have decided not to put anything under the tree before hand because of the 17 month old and the 3 year old. The baby would open things just because she is curious and just that a baby. But the 3 year old on the other hand would open everything because... well, he could. He has gotten presents already from his mother's family and has actually already broken several of his toys. We tried to get him things he would not break but he really seems to have the breaking thing down to a fine art.

I seem to be a bit down this Christmas. We haven't had much money just what I have been able to earn from my blog and that hasn't been much. But I have been able to buy everyone in the house Christmas presents. Not the things that I would love to have purchased them but at least no one had to give me money to make my purchases and for that I am thankful. Randy and I will not be exchanging gifts this year as there just wasn't enough money to go around but that is ok. We have each other and we are in good health.

Jill is downstairs working in the kitchen. This afternoon we have to make reindeer dust for the kids to sprinkle on the lawn this evening so that Santa can find the house and the reindeer have something to eat. We mix some glitter with oatmeal and they really love doing it. Then they leave out coke and cookies for santa and some celery and carrots for the reindeer to have a snack on. Then it will be off to bed for them so that everything can be placed under the tree for tomorrow morning.

I remind myself daily that it is not about gifts, food or Santa at Christmas but that Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Gingerbread House

Well, they did it. They finished the Gingerbread house and no one had to leave home and join the witness protection program. The Aunt Sue Sue (Jill) and the three grandchildren accomplished it. I really think it turned out quite well. It is now in my room so the icing can all dry and that way when the 3 year old gets home he won't be running his grubby little fingers across the roof for the icing and trying to eat the candy off of it. It has been a pretty peaceful day his Mother is off work today and sometimes that is good news and sometimes that is bad news. Good news when she is gone almost all day long and bad when she is home almost all day long. She will be here for supper tonight which can mean problems. Both of her kids do not eat well when she is at the table. So better chill a bottle of wine so I can have a glass after dinner.

How well do you know Christmas

You Know a Lot About Christmas

You got 7/10 correct You know tons about the history and traditions surrounding Christmas. When you celebrate the holidays, you never forget their true meaning - or all the little fun details. Random Christmas fact: The average mall Santa is 5'9, 218 lbs, and 52 years old. The average waist size is 43 inches.

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

Ok so I don't know everything like I thought I did. But the worse thing about not knowing everything is that I don't know what I don't know??? I mean I took the test and now I don't know what questions I missed. Oh well guess what I don't know doesn't hurt me. Right?? Right!!

What Christmas Tree Are You?

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

I am really pretty traditional. I tend to want to do the things that were done in my family when I was a Child. But I know that over the years things do change. As the family gets bigger things tend to evolve and sort of morph into other traditions. I just need to learn to go with the flow a little bit more.