Christmas 2009

This was a particularly good Christmas. I did spend until midnight wrapping gifts and was exhausted when I went to bed. But really .. I can't complain. Sean is home from overseas for the first Christmas in three years. The kids - especially the boys are ecstatic for that event alone.

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents with the family. Fun times. I love feeling as if I have a place to belong. Before moving here ... it was rare that we got to come 'home' for Christmas. So living here and being able to drive 15 minutes down the road ... and then to be able to come home to sleep in our own beds is priceless. The kids had fun with their cousins ... eating and unwrapping a ton of gifts. Good food .. good times ...

I especially like having a sister there to hang out with. I just can't get over how our age gap has completely closed. She's a good egg. Not only a sister .. but a friend as well. That's so cliche but I finally get the quote "A sister is a forever friend". Totally.

So overall.. Christmas Eve was just what it's supposed to be. Family .. food ... laughter ... peace.

Christmas morning here at our house was a joyful event. Last night after coming home from my parent's .. the boys announced they just wanted to go to bed "with the door closed .. okay?" wink. wink. They haven't exactly come out and said that they don't believe in Santa but it's clear they know the truth. So sweet of them to humor me though and not do the nah-nah-boo-boo about it.

They didn't wake us up until 7am - that was the best gift they could have given me!

Highlights ... Favorites ....

Eli - bike, DS, tony hawk skateboard game for the xbox (and the super cool guitar grandpa gave him ... my ears are still ringing)

Jackson - xbox games, xbox live and starwars legos (year after year .. he never tires of those)

Hayley - tv, gift cards, money and a super-fly abercrombie bag (yes, I rock)

I got the Nike lunarglide's I have been coveting and Sean got a Ipod deck.

As Hayley is opening her gifts and going through her stocking ..

"oh .. cool - new razors. now I don't have to use yours. oh .. cool - socks. now I don't have to steal yours. oh .. cool - new makeup. now I don't have to sneak yours. OH OH I GET IT - this is the 'now-I-don't-have-to-borrow-your-stuff-Christmas'"

It's always nice to hear every single child of yours say "This has been the BEST Christmas EVER".

Success!!