Christmas Morning 2008

Santa Clause is coming.

In general we do not make huge Christmas plans. Both of us come from families that for different reasons celebrated as immediate family only on Christmas day so neither of us is used to big gatherings and having decided that we like it that way are passing that tradition along to our children. Our children who are currently wildly excited about Christmas and driving us just a little crazy particularly Elijah who hasn't been about to contain himself all day (Ok that is where I stopped bc neil had gone upstairs and Elijah was trying to take Emily outside)

Now picking up after dinner. The kids each opened one present after church. Elijah opened his spider man cape and after being unsure about it had fun tearing around the house and jumping into the play room. This year will be a bit of an adjustment for him as most of his gifts are lowtech. Emily opened a fabric book and Neil opened the Jack shirt I made him. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Elijah is now worried that Santa might not come if he lets me take pictures of them in their matching pj's before bed. I thought we were done with Santa earlier this year when he came home from school announcing that a friend had told him Santa wasn't real but he seems to have drunk the koolaid again. I'm fine either way. I just don't want to blatantly lie to him when he asks questions. I think this will probably be our last year though. I know some people try to preserve this part of the Christmas magic longer but truth be told I think its just a magical either way. He will have to pretend for Emily for a few years anyways much like I did for Sam and even after that Santa will still bring gifts. Since our Santa doesn't wrap presents he mostly brings the hard to wrap items.
Stephanie

Well its Smaller.

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I went to the Dr today and the kidney stone that was left after the last one got broken is smaller then it was a few months ago. His best guess is that some of it broke off and came out unnoticed. He think it should have hurt but I reminded him that I have 2 kids and my back has hurt to one degree or another for 6 years so my nothing out of the ordinary is shall we say different from other peoples. The good news is the rest of it could pass and he said while he would be willing to go ahead and break it again he would advise me not to. So I'm supposed to drink lots of water and hope and pray for the best. Sounds good to me especially since its now a size that I'm allowed to keep.

This and That

It seems that I go long enough between updating lately that its hard to form on coherent set of thoughts. Life is full and life is good though so who am I to complain.

We are getting ready for Christmas though thus far it hasn't been stressful. Most of the gifts are wrapped. I hope that the kids particularly Elijah are happy this year. We are not nor will we ever be doing a completely handmade Christmas but I did make many of their gifts this year and most of them are low tech. He is getting the Walee dvd and a mini web kin but other then that its some old school Lego's and mama made stuff. Emily's stuff is much the same. She is getting a ball popper but most of her stuff is mama made. Santa will be bringing her the parenting cube that Elijah wanted when he was little. Some of this was out of my desire to save a bit of money this year but most of it was wanting to encourage more creative play. Oh and I nearly forgot Emily and Beca are both getting pettiskirts and they look so fun I really wish I'd ordered an adult one for myself and will if there is another co op.

I'd also like to spend a bit of time bragging one my husband. Feel free to skip this part if you have a weak stomach. I should begin by saying that I think we all must try to find someone who is right for us and Neil is right for me in many ways I can't even explain but he has also done some things lately that are blatantly brag worthy. First off I've had a nasty cold this week and he has been letting me sleep in till he has to walk Elijah to school. He usually gets Elijah moving but not having to deal with either of them for a bit each morning has been incredible. He also wrapped my Christmas presents in fabric that Emily picked out at Elegant Stitches. It will be fun to figure out what to make out of it but its all very pretty. Emily even picked out a lady bug fabric that she also picked this summer so she must really like that. Oh and lastly Rehannon pointed out to me that it is uncommon to have your husband read the entire Twilight Series to you in bed but mine totally did. He liked them too though as they really are fun books.

As for the kids they are well. Elijah seems to be over his ear infections and excited about winter break. Emily had discovered whole milk and sippy cups so she is nursing so much less. I'm actually pretty happy about this. I like nursing but I'm sick of nursing bras and she is so active that she really doesn't like to take the time out of her busy day for it more then maybe twice. I just don't want her to drop her early morning one till she is ready to skip it all together bc this mama does not get up at 5:30.

teeth tiaras and whatnot

Elijah lost his second tooth Today at Sweet Tomatoes.
3d shapes are now a part of the kinder garden curriculum. Here is a cube that Elijah made all by himself. He definitely has some good visual spacial skills.
Emily wearing Mommies old tiara. She loved it and didn't want to give it up but I told her she couldn't officially have it till she was old enough not to break it.
Last but not least my effort to be a cool crafty mama. Elijah is stamping the packing paper that Oma and Opa sent with their gifts to make wrapping paper. Truth be told he didn't love doing it so he only did this one sheet. If we do it again I will get stamps and ink pads instead of paint stamps. I think that would have definitely worked better.

Nick and Nora

Presents I love the presents

This is mostly a confession based post on my part but I came to a realization recently. I'm the one in my family who really loves to get the Christmas crazies. While we are keeping things more reigned in this year then we did when Elijah was littler I have to confess that I really enjoy buying and making neat Christmas gifts for my kids. Someone recently suggested to me this great set up based on the gifts the wise men brought Jesus and while it sounded like a great program all I could thing was I'm not sure I could bear it if I were only allowed to get my children 3 gifts plus one from Santa. I do come by this rightly. My mom is way worse then I am but I just enjoy it too much not to do it so many of our gifts are simpler this year but we will still be opening lots of presents bc it makes me happy.

Thanks for the music recommendations. I've been hanging out on utube deciding what I like. I still haven't updated my itunes account since loosing my wallet so no official additions to the ipod but we are getting there.

I need music

So I'm having a slight problem. I am a musical person but not in the since that I make it well only that I love my ipod and need to relax. The really not so slight problem is that I'm bored with every single song one my ipod and every cd that I own. So my request is for suggestions. After all without Erin I wouldn't currently after more then 10 years be bored with my old indgo girls cd's. I mean its sad when I press skip on Virgina Wolf but its happened. So please please please songs and artists that you love new or old.