Christmas Jiingles

Hudson might as well adopt "All I Want For Christmas. . . ," as his theme song since his second tooth came out last night.

It doesn't help that I saw Ruby kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night. She has become a kissing fool. You never know quite what to expect from her smooches, but they're sweet anyway. She crawls around smacking her lips.

We've hung a mistletoe up in the house and the kids love to stand under it and draw attention to themselves. Even though Hudson takes off running when I come, he still enjoys being loved by his mom.

Dalanie is quite terrified of Santa. She clung onto Brent and buried her head in his shoulder as they waited in line for Santa. When it was her turn, she suddenly turned around and blurted out "I want a baby doll," and then went back in hiding. Hopefully Santa did listen what you'll bring to me, tell me if you can.

Brent might as well be singing "On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me. . . " a bended fender on the Suburban. Now we're even. Dang it, so stupid! Backed into a car taking the babysitter home.

The weather outside has been frightful, but too bad it's been rain instead of snow.

Our children have adopted the policy: We won't go until we get some! They can con treats out of more people when we're out visiting.

We wish you a Merry Christmas! And hope you've been enjoying the songs of the season too!

Believe

Our house is full of believers. There is something magical about kid's wishes and and dreams of Christmas. Little ones' faith conveyed with wide-eyed excitement as they share their secret desires with Santa. The hushed reverence when they stop to get you to listen for the tinkling of a bell. Their reasoning behind a haphazardly place elf and blinking red light in the sky. Oh, kids make Christmas fun!

If only adults believed like children.

Forgiveness, healing, and hope would not be forgotten with stored boxes of decorations. But the entire world would rejoice in the knowledge that He lives! He is real, this I believe.

Something nice to watch.

Reason for the Season

On the way down to the community Christmas concert tonight, Dalanie asked if Santa would be there? I told her probably not and reminded her that Santa's not the reason that we have Christmas. She quickly responded, "Will Jesus be there?"

Lucky Day

I got a phone call the other day notifying me that Hudson's name had been drawn as the bank's quarterly Kirby Kid's Club winner. We've had prior success with the bank. The kids each won a potato decorating contest entitling them to a box of Dots and a kiddie cone. In addition we've enjoyed the free lunches they occasionally provide. It is a very small-community oriented credit union. But when the lady informed me that the drawing was for $50 I was even more satisfied with our little bank.

The bank asked what bills Hudson would like. With little thought he repeated the "five tens" option. Now he's trying to decide what to do with his fifty bucks.

He also got McDonald's coupons from school that day. What a lucky day.

Tradition. . . Tradition!

Traditions are some of the things I enjoy most about the holidays. The kids were over the moon when Ojo, our elf, arrived. He's been a busy guy as of late. Oh the questions they ask about him and Santa! It's a race in the morning to find where he's chilling. Ojo can always be called on to help end an argument or motivate one to do their chores.Yesterday we ginger-ed the day away making gingerbread men and then decorating our "graham cracker-bread" houses. The kids love the opportunity to get their hands dirty and get creative. Hudson rolled out lots of gingerbread snakes and worms. They were his favorite. Both kids decided their houses were going to be hit by a big ice-ing storm.
Meanwhile, Ruby watched from her trusty high chair. She is most content up where all the action is. Here's to many more days creating traditions.

Charlie Brown Tree

With all of the snow, we decided the best option for Christmas tree hunting would be down at Stop n' Shop. We loaded up the kids and drove down. While they looked at the bushier trees with their dad, I found the scrawniest one there and declared it my winner. Without further discussion, Brent went inside and purchased the tree. Once standing in the living room, Brent surveyed the embarrassment. I tried assuring him that it would be fine.

Hudson helped with the decorating and declared it the most beautiful tree ever. I suppose that's all in the eyes of the beholder. But to me, a scrawny Christmas tree like I grew up is best.

Hooray For Ruby

Today we celebrated her first birthday. It was equally exciting for all of the kids.
I made Hudson and Dalanie eat breakfast while Ruby got some time alone in the bath with her new toy. She loves it. It was a low key birthday, but we finished the day by going swimming. (We've tried to make birthdays special by doing something out of the ordinary.) She is such a splashing fool. It was hard to keep a hold of her because she wanted to take off swimming.
Things we love about our Ruby-Doo:
-her happy disposition
-playing peek-a-boo and patty cake (love watching her clap her chubby hands)
-eating her neck and listening to her giggle
-listening to her mooo when you ask where the cows are
-the way she begs for food as soon as I sit her in the high chair
-pulling her around on blankets
-confidently watching her approach stairs, turn around, and maneuver down them like a pro
-the way she snuggles her blankies
-her 5 crazy baby teeth
-that she finally says "Mom"
-that her hair and lips are still the object of conversation