All was Bright!

Christmas was full of good cheer this year.  With our boys, one can never predict whether gifts will be a boon or a bust.  We nailed it this year!  Happiness ruled the day!  We began early, as in off and on from about midnight on.....  I could hear Trish herding them back into their rooms  from time to time with cries of "too early!!"

By 6 AM the excitement could no longer be contained and the usual Christmas morning chaos began.  By 8 AM the gamers were in full force with new Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360  games.  Sam wanted and got an entire arsenal of Nerf weapons, several of which were as big as he is!!  Foan bullets were flying.   It was fun and the fights, for once, were few and far between. 

Later in the afternoon I visited with my brother and his wife at my niece's home.  This was a nice finish to a wonderful Christmas Day!

Smiles were the light of the day!!!!

Santa Paws paid a visit to the pups, much to their delight!

                    It was a very good Christmas!

The Stockings are hung

Yes, the stockings are hung, the kids are asleep, then awake, then back to sleep....  Trish and I could be up for quite awhile.  Last year the boys were up at 3 AM.....  I predict that sleep will be scarce this Christmas Eve.

The boys are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve.  It's one of our traditions that, frankly, makes Christmas Eve less stressful for those of us who have to endure their whining and boredom all day.  Trish worked until 5; Connor played his video game and Sam and I went to Christmas Eve service at 3. 

The weather was frightful, I must say.  We had a cold rain all day and into the evening.  We needed the rain, but I'm dreaming of last Christmas when we had a delightful WHITE Christmas!  Those who know me know how I do love snow and how I loved last winter when we had a most unusually snowy winter. 

La Nina has cursed me this year, I'm afraid.  Last week we had an 85 degree day that smashed records.  I was NOT happy!  At least it's cold for Christmas, although the forecast calls for at least one 70-something day as the year draws to a close.

I think Santa is going to make a couple of little boys  (not so little) happy tomorrow.  Actually, Connor has the Santa thing figured out, while Sam does, too......kinda....   He desperately wants to believe.  So, I told him that he can definitely believe.  I said that I will always believe since Santa is the spirit of Christmas, of giving.  

So, believing.... in the meaning of Christmas and the spirit of Christmas is what it's all about.

Happy Birthday Jesus, and Merry Christmas Eve to all my friends and family!

This Jolly Old Elf has miles to go before she sleeps.....

Merry Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends!  Santa came late and Christmas came early as Santa only beat the boys by a couple of hours!!  They were able to be, mostly, contained in one room or another (Trish and I got zero sleep!) until about 6 AM.  It's not yet noon and the day has already lasted foooooooorever!!

Sam and I played in the snow when the sun came up.  How fun to have a white Christmas Day!  Thought I'd share some photos of last night and today.

Snow Bunnies and Santa Paws..

            

All is calm.....briefly

Snow bunny Sam

Connor chillin..

Snow Angel Sam

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Long time no post.


It's been a busy few months around here. I've been working full time as a special education crisis sub in a local elementary school. It's both exhausting and rewarding. Exhausting because I work with special ed kiddos who need a full and constantly changing bag of tricks when it comes to teaching and producing measurable results. That can mean dancing on your head or silly songs, bouncing, while counting on a mini trampoline or using hand puppets to cajole responses. What works one day or one hour might not work the next. Gotta keep that bag of tricks and reinforcers full and handy! On the other hand, the work is rewarding in that these kids grab your heart and keep you smiling and laughing.

When I get home it's *sigh* more of the same with the home team....

So, not much down time to blog or spend online. I find myself lucky if I make it through my 9 PM TV shows, much less the 10 PM news. Thank God for the DVR!! 5 AM comes all too soon.

Winter break has been a welcome respite in that I can sleep a bit later (if the boys let me) and can catch up on things I've had to let slide the past few months. This is also my favorite time of the year. I love Christmas and all the trappings!! My decorations go up beginning Thanksgiving Day and I take them down starting the day after Christmas. All, that is, but my Snowman collection that I keep in place until it's time to ring in Spring. Also, my snowmen keep my hope alive for some beloved snow!! :) Already had a small taste of it a few weeks ago. Only for a couple of hours, but it stuck and was gorgeous. Now I want more!

The boys are wild this close to Christmas. We still have believers in the guy in the red suit around here, so it's hard to contain the excitement. They have been awake and bugging Trish and me at the ungodly hours of 3 and 4 AM the last couple of mornings!!! NOT FUN!!

Today is an unseasonable 70ish and, at the moment, sunny, tho' we're due some storms and an abrupt return to Christmas temps for Christmas Eve. I LOVE the cold!

*Sigh* I hear the sounds of bickering and rough-housing boys who must want to have their names written in blood on the naughty list..


The halls are decked and the stockings hung. Christmas is coming!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my friends and family!!!