Christmas 2008

I'm just now getting around to blogging about our Christmas! The kids are officially back in school today, Yippee! I had every intention to get all my decor put away today, but now it's almost 2pm and they'll be home soon, so it will have to wait until tomorrow. We started off our Christmas break with Jake getting strep throat. The very first day he was home on vacation, we had to go to the dr's office. He wasn't happy because we also had a huge snow storm and he was stuck inside while the neighborhood kids were out playing in the snow. We were finished with all of our shopping after one remaining trip to Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve eve - I went at 6:30 in the morning to avoid the crowds, and it worked! I was home and ready to wrap away all before 8:00 am! We spent the few days before Christmas shoveling out of our driveway, several times. Our neighbors across the street let Kim borrow their 4-Wheeler and plow to shovel out all the driveways on our street. It makes it a little faster than shoveling and the kids think it's pretty fun to ride behind him and plow snow.

Our Christmas Eve traditions have always been the same...decorate cookies for Santa, read two Christmas books (one spiritual one and Twas the Night Before Christmas), and open Christmas pj's from mom and dad. This year mom got smart and baked and froze the sugar cookies a few weeks before so all we had to do was frost and decorate (and then clean up a bazillion sprinkles off the floor...) the cookies. The one and only thing that Natalie really, really wanted was a Baby Alive. Good thing Santa found it in his heart to spend money on a doll that poops and pees....she also got new Little Ponies, clothes, a 'real' camera and some new games.

Emily was so happy that Santa remembered to bring her an MP3 player, some new clothes, her very own CD player, Littlest Pet Shop Toys, and Barbie's to dress and undress over and over. She also was the one who had put a puppy on her Christmas list - I guess Santa thought she had been extra nice! Jake's favorite gift was his Ipod. A close second and third were the Eragon book series and his new artists set. He's gotten into drawing alot and is fascinated with the chalks and pencils and paper. Abby's favorite gift was, of course, her Ipod. I miraculously figured out how to download songs onto it on Christmas day, and it hasn't left her ears since then. She also got some new clothes, a hair straightener, blow dryer, and a few other girly things. Kim opening his gift from Jake...a tie he bought, with his own hard earned money, from Maceys! Yes, that's Macey's the grocery store, not Macy's the department store! Jake was so happy to find the tie for $6.99 and then he even had $$ leftover to buy some Reese's PB cups for an addition to the tie. It's one of those gifts you get from your kids that you wear, just to make them happy! Kim doesn't seem to mind it came from the grocery store....he's worn it to church two weeks in a row! Grandma's and Grandpa's sent the kids (well, Kim, really) Rockband and a Nintendo DS with games. Kim hasn't missed a day so far without practicing the drums on Rockband!

Our last week of Christmas break was spent in the house, again, with some sort of stomach bug. Natalie started us all off, and one by one we all ended up with a 24 hr. bug. We're all on the mend now, and ready to get the house in order...I wouldn't say 'we' so much as 'I'! I'm ready to pack away the tree, the lights, and all the fun until 11 months from now!

We hope your holiday's were wonderful and wish you all a Happiest New Year! Get to work on those resolutions!